Constraints in fish farming activities as perceived by the fish farmers of RI Bhoi and west Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya

Abstract

The study was undertaken at Ri Bhoi and West Garo hills districts of Meghalaya during the month of August to October, 2019 to study and identify the constraints pertaining to fish farming and related activities as perceived by the fish farmers of the districts. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured interview schedule from 90 respondents. During the study, it was observed that majority of the respondents belonged to middle aged group. High proportions of the respondents were formally educated up to secondary school (37.78%). Majority of the respondents belonged to nuclear family of size (48.89%). Majority of the fish farmers had medium pond size area (0.07- 0.51 ha). 80 per cent of the fish farmers had up to 5 years of experience in fish farming activities. The study also revealed that the constraints encountered by the fish farmers were high-value cost of technologies; improper storage technique; over specificity/lack of flexibility of the technology with the environment inaccessibility of credit; high cost of inputs; inadequate financial support; excessive cost of labour; non-availability of the technology lack of financial institution; shortage of labourers; inadequate marketing opportunities; poor assistance from the Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDA); social beliefs; limited availability of seeds and limited number of publications; extension workers rarely conducts farm and home visit; Unsuccessful implementation of fisheries schemes; absence of policy support; absence of awareness and other developmental programmes from the government; lack of communication on the part of extension workers; lack of need based training programme; illiteracy.