Bishal Bordoloi
MFSc from College of Fisheries
AAU, Raha
Assam (India)
P.C Bhuyan
Head, Professor
Department of Fishery Extension, Economics & Statistics
College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha. Assam (India)
Manash Pratim Dutta
Assistant Professor
Department of Fishery Extension, Economics & Statistics
College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha. Assam (India)
Arnab Narayan Patowary
Assistant Professor
Department of Fishery Extension, Economics & Statistics
College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha. Assam (India)
S. Borthakur
Professor
Department of Aquaculture
College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha. Assam (India)
Abdul Aziz
Fishery Development Officer
O/o DFDO, Karimganj, Dept. of Fisheries
Govt. of Assam, Assam (India)
Abstract
The present investigation is carried out in Darrang district, North bank plain zone, Assam with the three major objectives- i) to find out the constraints of production and marketing of fish in adoption of composite fish culture as perceived by the fish farmers in the district, ii) to study the socio-economic condition of fish farmers of the Darrang district, and iii) to formulate strategies for improvement of fish production. A total of 200 respondents are selected randomly from the two blocks- Pub Mangaldai development block and Kalaigaon development block of Darrang district. The demographic profile of the respondents reveals that majority of the fish farmers (32.5%) are in the age group (41 years to 50 years ) followed by the age group – 31 years to 40 years (27.5%). Majority of fish farmers (32 %) are belonged to General Caste, followed by OBC (30.5%). 66.5% of the respondents are from joint family and rest from nuclear family. As per their qualification 33.5% of the respondents have completed class -X standard. Most of the respondents (24%) are from medium income group and agriculture/ allied activities are their main occupation. Out of total respondents majority of the respondents (48.5%) are marginal farmers. About general information of the fish farmers related to the fish culture revealed that most of the respondents (56%) have only 1- 2 nos of fish pond having pond area more than(0.13 ha); 92.0% of the respondents have 1-5 years of experience in fishery activities. Most of the respondents (52.5%) utilize their own fund for their fish farming venture. The average fish production in the study area in composite fish culture is found out to be 1400 kg/ha/year. A total of 20 constraints have been identified as constraints in adoption of composite fish culture as perceived by fish farmers. Lack of good quality of fish seeds at the time of stocking is the biggest problem followed by lack of knowledge of soil and water quality management, lack of institutional credit , lack of knowledge about application of inputs etc. Some strategies have been suggested to mitigate these constraints.
Key words: Aquaculture, Production, Perception, Problems, Management, Strategies
