Impact of cage culture in reservoir on the livelihood of fishers: A case study in Jharkhand, India

Abstract

Cage fish farming in Indian reservoirs has the potential to enhance the reservoir production manifold. The study estimated that around 14,000 cages have been installed in different reservoirs of the country which are producing around 16% of fishes of the current reservoir production. Around 7.5 lakh mandays of labour are being generated by the cage fish farming in the country. An empirical study in the state of Jharkhand found that the cage culture contributed around 30% of their livelihood of the adopted fishers. The cage culture not only increased monthly family income but also reduced the occupation migration. The cage fishermen households also accumulated some durable assets due to improvement in household income. However, high initial cost of cage culture operation, high feed cost and low market price of cultured pangas fish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) were some of the major constraints in adopting the technology reported by the cage fishers. The study recommends the State Departments to promote the ICAR-CIFRI’s low cost GI cages in their reservoirs since the technology in these water bodies may play a significant role in fulfilling the vision of second blue revolution in the country.