Small scale pond fish farming in a tribal district of India: an economic perspective

Abstract

Economic evaluation of pond fish farming in Gondia District, Maharashtra, India is presented. The results indicate that pond fish farming is an economically viable enterprise with the benefit-cost ratio ranging from 2.22 to 4.44. Producer’s share in consumer’s rupee ranges from 52 to 93% . The study also highlights the major constraints hampering the growth of fish farming in the district. Production function was of quadratic type and the pond size, number of fingerlings, labour involved in feeding as well as harvesting and use of farm yard manure as feed are the major determinants of the revenue accrued from fish production. Lack of technical know-how, plurality of ownership, and lack of credit were rated as the most important constraints affecting growth of fish farming practices in the district. Based on the analysis, policy changes like extension of lease period up to 10 years from the current policy of 5 years, as practised by state agencies and possible ways of extending credit and repayment options are discussed. The analysis indicated necessity of developing infrastructure to realise potential of fish farming and marketing as a premier enterprise in the district. The results are important for the central India, cutting across states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where similar agro-climatic conditions prevail.