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Green Mussel, Perna viridis, Farming in Kerala, India – Technology Diffusion Process and Socioeconomic Impacts

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Title Green Mussel, Perna viridis, Farming in Kerala, India – Technology Diffusion Process and Socioeconomic Impacts
 
Creator Kripa, V
Mohamed, K S
 
Subject Edible oyster
Farming/Culture
Mussel culture
 
Description The technology diffusion process of green mussel, Perna viridis, farming in Kerala, India, was
studied by analyzing the adoption pattern, socioeconomic profile of mussel farmers, differences in
farming methods, profit variations, development of trade and downstream industries, and the social
factors responsible for the growth of this new industry. The farming practice has been adopted by
villagers from 1996, and because of its rapid growth, India has risen to one among the top 10 farmed
mussel producing nations in Asia, with an annual production of 10,060 tonnes, worth $US1.79 million
at farm-gate level. Three types of farm ownerships were observed: individual ownership (IND), family
ownership (FAM), and ownerships by self-help groups (SHG). The adoption curves are such that there
were only a few adopters initially followed by an increasing rate of adoption in the subsequent years
because of the demonstration effect. The study indicated the deep-rooted ‘‘risk aversion’’ attitude
widely prevalent among technology adopters. Age could not be significantly related to technology
adoption, while education and occupation of the respondents significantly (P , 0.05) influenced the
technology adoption process. The biggest outcome of mussel farming in Kerala was the empowerment
of women with 87% of the SHG farms owned by women. The successful diffusion of mussel farming is
the result of a combination of factors, chiefly, the availability of suitable water bodies; high rate of
education; proximity of mussel markets and high degree of mussel consumption in the area; and
a unique synergy between technology developers, promoters, and credit advancers. This development
scenario can work as a role model for developing nations.
 
Publisher World Aquaculture Society
 
Date 2008
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/5826/1/cera17.pdf
Kripa, V and Mohamed, K S (2008) Green Mussel, Perna viridis, Farming in Kerala, India – Technology Diffusion Process and Socioeconomic Impacts. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 39 (5). pp. 612-624.