Fish farming to enhance their socio-economic condition and farmers' perceptions towards developmental needs in Odisha of India

Abstract

Modern inland fish farming is a highly profitable venture for Indian farmers, as the demand for fish is rising daily due to its easy availability in rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. Additionally, fish is a rich source of nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Due to this, the fish farmers of Odisha are more interested in cultivating inland fish. The study was conducted in four districts of Odisha to understand the perception of fish farmers regarding their socio-economic development after adopting fish farming practices. Both purposive and random sampling methods were used for the selection of respondents. The findings showed that fish farming had a good impact on the socio-cultural development of the farmers. The fish farmers demonstrated a moderate level of development in terms of infrastructure, stakeholder relationships, and access to finance and credit.