MSc

The present study entitled “Capture production and economic performance of
inland fisheries in Kerala” was carried out in the Department of Agricultural
Economics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2019-21 to study the
trend in production of inland fish and to study the economics of pond fish production in
Alappuzha district. The socio-economic characteristics of farmers were also studied
during the time period. An attempt was also made to identify the marketing channels
and to analyse the constraints faced by the farmers in pond fish production.
The study was mainly done in Kerala using secondary data collected from the
Directorate of Fisheries, Vikas bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and annual reports
of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, while the primary data was
collected from Alappuzha district as the district secured a major position in inland fish
production during 2019-20. Alappuzha had 4 fisheries units, out of which Mannar unit
witnessed higher inland pond fish production. Ten grama panchayats from Mannar unit
were selected for study which included Puliyoor, Budanoor, Purakkad, Thekkekara,
Ala, Venmony, Mannar, Thiruvanvandoor, Mulakuzha and Palamel due to greater
number of pond fish farmers in these grama panchayats. From each of the grama
panchayats, 6 farmers were selected at random for the purpose of study.
The socio-economic characteristics of the farmers were studied based on age,
gender, education, occupation, family size, land holding size, experience in inland pond
fish production and pond area. The analysis showed that 50 per cent of the farmers who
undertook fish production belonged to the category of old age with more than 50 yrs.
Least participation was found to be from the young generation within 30 yrs of age.
Majority of the farmers undertaking pond fish farming were males and this constituted
about 67 per cent. Females constituted only 33 per cent but they took part in the day-today activities involved such as feeding fishes, pond maintenance etc in the ponds. The
analysis of educational status of the farmers revealed that 33 per cent of them had predegree/Higher Secondary level. None of them were found to be illiterate and a good
chunk of them ie. 30 per cent were graduates. In the surveyed area, 27 per cent of the
farmers primarily practised pond fish farming and considered it as a primary source of
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income. The survey revealed that 80 per cent of the farmers belonged to nuclear families
whereas 12 farmers from a total of 60 were part of joint families. Ninety per cent of the
farmers had less than 20 cents of pond area, and 10 per cent had more than 20 cents and
each pond was managed by a group of 2 or three farmers so as to reduce the burden of
more financial investment.
Total land holding survey of the sample farmers revealed that 55 per cent of the
farmers owned less than 1 acre whereas 28 per cent owned between 1-2 acres and the
rest owned more than 2 acres. Sample respondents had experience of 2-4 yrs of pond
fish farming with a mean value of 2.4 yrs.
The data obtained for 20 yrs from 2000-01 to 2019-20 of India when analysed,
it was observed that there was a steady increase in the inland fish production attaining
a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.85 per cent. When the data pertaining
to inland fish production in Kerala was analyzed for 20 yrs from 2000-01 to 2019-20, it
was revealed that CAGR was 6.74 per cent showing an increasing trend over the years.
CAGR obtained for Alappuzha district from 2004-05 to 2019-20 was 10.40 per cent
and was found that Alappuzha showed increasing inland production over the time
period compared to other districts in Kerala. Kottayam showed highest CAGR with
17.92 per cent and Palakkad is lowest with -0.61 per cent.
The economics of pond fish cultivation when studied, it was observed that the
initial investment accounts to a total amount of Rs. 35,18,705 per acre; 33 percent was
contributed by the purchase of tarpaulin followed by pond construction (31 per cent).
Rest of the cost were involved for farm building construction, frame, input-output pipes,
CCTV, weighing balance etc. The variable cost involved in the pond fish production
amounted to Rs. 16,85,631 per acre. Feed cost contributed to 39 per cent of the total
variable cost followed by labour cost which was 32 per cent. Other variable cost
contributing factors included seed, manure, lime, solution kit, maintenance,
depreciation, interest on working capital and fixed capital. Family labour contributed to
80 per cent of total labour requirement. Average returns when calculated accounted to
19,763.52 kg from three fish species cultivated namely Pangassius, Tilopia and Anabus.
The cost of production of Pangassius, Tilopia and Anabus was worked out to be
Rs.145.80, 202.34 and 311.85 respectively. The total returns obtained was Rs.
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35,84,446.40 per acre attaining a discounted benefit cost ratio of 1.08 and variable cost
benefit cost ratio of 2.13 which showed that pond fish production is economically
feasible.
The resource use efficiency of pond fish production of revealed that labour, seed
and feed were significantly contributing to the yield with an R2 value of 0.90. Usage of
lime was found negatively affecting the yield. It was found that other than solution kit,
all resources were underutilized in the production process.
There were two marketing channels in the marketing of inland fish in the study
area of which 80 per cent of the produce was marketed through channel 1 ie. through
producer – consumer and the rest through producer-retailer-consumer. High cost of feed
and inadequate supply of quality fingerlings were the major constraints found in the
production side whereas price fluctuation and less demand for Pangassius were found
to be the important constraints in the marketing side of inland fish production.
The study observed that pond fish farming was an economically feasible project.
In the light of analysis made from the study, it was observed that if the government
provides adequate incentives for feed to all inland fish farmers, it may attract more
young people to inland fish farming. Furthermore, the government may promote fish
hatcheries in the district so that it can supply quality fingerlings to the fish farmers.
Steps may be taken by the concerned authorities to provide insurance schemes so that
farmers can insure the fishes as the producers are facing huge losses due to several
factors like diseases and adverse climatic conditions.