Developing resource based income generation model through fish value addition: A case study in Kadamakudy

Abstract

In Kerala, fisherwomen are mostly involved in the pre-processing activities pertaining to fisheries and aquaculture which hardly ensures regular income. Value addition in fishes may lead to better income generation and sustainable livelihood security. ICARCIFT, as a part of village adoption programme, initiated a study on socioeconomic empowerment of fisherwomen of Kadamakudy, Ernakulam. Local fish production includes species like tilapia which are marketed fresh in the neighbouring markets fetching low prices. The resource based income generation model was envisioned in this study through empowerment of existing women SHGs, promoting entrepreneurial unit through intervention of apt fish processing technologies using local fishery resources in addition to support by way of linking the entrepreneurial unit with marketing and funding agencies under different schemes of governments. Enthusiastic fisherwomen representing various defunct SHGs were formed as a potential group through number of sensitization programmes, imparted skills in value addition through trainings and technology demonstrations and motivated to take up some venture in a business mode. Market feasibility studies were done for value added products in the neighbouring town and adopting consumer-oriented marketing strategies, the selection and promotion of right value added products was done. Fish value addition taken up by the fisherwomen of Kadamakudy was a successful endeavor which has led to generation of more than 30 per cent additional family income. This paper discusses the success of the fisherwomen in establishing small-scale business in fish value addition through SWOT analysis and highlights the gender empowerment