Information and Training Needs of Coastal Fisherfolk of Ernakulam District in Kerala

Abstract

Fishery is a vibrant sector where technologies play a significant role in the developmental activities. Kerala is a major fishing and fish-processing hub in India with more than six million persons directly or indirectly involved in the various fishery-related activities. Availability of information on the innovations in fisheries at the right time is vital for the coastal community to carry out the activities in the right direction and realise better profits. This study was conducted to assess the information and training needs of fishermen operating mechanised crafts at Munambam fishing village and fisherwomen involved in fish-processing activities at Chellanam fishing village in Ernakulam district in Kerala. The study revealed that the overall information and training need index of the fishermen involved in mechanised fishing was 56.37 percent, and for fisherwomen in processing was very high at 87.38 percent. The subject-wise information and training needs have also been discussed. The information need was highly correlated with the educational status and occupation taken up for primary source of livelihood.