Adoption of pen culture technology in the wetlands of West Bengal, India.

Abstract

A participatory study was carried out in a representative wetland of West Bengal to understand the reasons behind limited adoption of pen culture technology by the fishers of West Bengal. Six major constraints were identified in the process of adoption of pen culture. Preferential ranking technique was employed to identify the problems faced and also the Average Extent of Damage (AEOD), as perceived by the fishers. Based on the Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) and AEOD, the final rank of the identified constraints was calculated. The study revealed that most of the fishers were not aware about the importance, economic viability and technological feasibility of pen culture technology and as a result, they were not interested in adopting pen culture. Ownership of wetland is the second important issue regarding adoption of pen culture technology while management of pens in the wetland was identified as the third problem. Suggestive measures like mass awareness campaigns, result demonstrations, formation of Fishers Interest Groups or Common Interest Groups and organizing monthly workshops can trim down the inhibiting factors in non-adoption of pen culture technology.