6165 Constraints in the Adoption of Cage Aquaculture Practices in Ernakulam District, Kerala Daisy C.Kappen1, K Dinesh2 and N.D Divya3 ABSTRACT The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) implements a project entitled, “Village Adoption for Empowerment and Capacity Building Ensuring Livelihood of Fisherfolk in Central Kerala” from 2015 onwards with the objective of increasing fish production, creating employment opportunities to the fisher folk, thus ensuring livelihood security to them. The University is giving special emphasis on promoting cage aquaculture of variety of species in suitable areas and providing both technical and financial support to its beneficiary farmers for establishing small scale units. The present study was carried out in Ernakulam District of the Kerala State with the objective of identifying the constraints faced by 80 beneficiary farmers engaged in cage aquaculture of Asian seabass. The constraints faced by the cage aquaculture farmers were classified into three categories namely technical, economic and infrastructural/ administrative constraints. The most important constraints were non -availability of quality seeds, high cost of feed and lack of timely and adequate supply of seeds. Keywords: Cage Aquaculture; Constraints; Seabass; Kerala 1. Associate Professor, College of Fisheries, Panangad, Kochi-682506, 2. Associate Professor and Head, Dept of Aqua culture, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, Kochi-682506 and 3. Research fellow, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, Kochi-682506 Research Article Journal of Extension Education Vol. 30 No. 4, 2018 DOI:https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2018.4.30.6165-6172 INTRODUCTION Though the State of Kerala is endowed with vast resources in the form of fresh and brackish waters, the total fish production of the State from both marine and inland sector is insufficient to meet the growing demand for fish. The State depends on the neighbouring States to meet its daily requirement. Among the diversified aquaculture practices, Cage farming has enormous potential to augment fish production and it has made possible the large scale produce of commercial finfish and it is probably the most efficient way of raising fish. (Roy et al. 2015). It is ideal for poor and landless fisherfolk and is becoming popular in the State of Kerala where both fresh and brackish water resources suitable for promoting cage aquaculture are available. Realizing the scope of cage aquaculture in the backwaters of Kerala State, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies ( KUFOS) is providing both Received : 17-09-2018; Accepted : 08-10-2018 6166 technical and financial support to the fisherfolk and motivating them in adopting the technology of cage aquaculture of seabass under the Plan project “Village Adoption for Empowerment and Capacity Building Ensuring Livelihood of Fisherfolk in Central Kerala” funded by Government of Kerala from 2015 onwards The present study was undertaken to know the major constraints faced by beneficiary farmers of the above project in adopting the technology of cage aquaculture of Asian seabass in Kerala. METHODOLOGY The present study was conducted in Ernakulam District of Kerala State. This district is endowed with rich resources in the form of backwaters which is ideal for promoting cage aquaculture practices. A total of 80 beneficiary farmers of the above project doing cage aquaculture of Asian seabass was selected for the present study by using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected by using a well- structured interview schedule. The constraints faced by the cage aquaculture farmers were classified into three categories namely technical, economic and infrastructural/ administrative constraints. In all, six technical, 11 economic and 12 infrastructural/ administrative constraints in adopting the technology were identified and these constraints were measured using the procedure developed by Singh et al.(2002). The constraints were weighed on a three - point continuum scale viz. very serious, serious and not so serious respectively with weightage as 3, 2, and 1 respectively, depending upon the nature of the constraints from the view point of respondents. The constraint -wise total scores were worked out. The total scores thus obtained on each of the column were multiplied by the allotted weights. The weighted cumulative frequency method was used for computing the rank order of the constraints in each section. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION The major constraints experienced by respondents in adopting the cage aquaculture practices were ranked for their relative importance on the basis of weighted cumulative frequency score. The data regarding various constraints are presented in Table 1. Table 1 reveals that among the technical constraints, non availability of the quality seed ranked first with a cumulative score of 229 which is in conformity with the findings of Singh et al.(2002) and Haque and Ray (1983). At present, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Aquaculture (RGCA), Sirkali, Tamilnadu is the only institution commercially producing seeds of seabass and selling the seeds measuring upto 3cm. to the farmers. Cost of transportation involved in the purchase of seeds from there for stocking in the cages fixed along the coastal areas of Kerala will increase the total input cost of the farmers besides the cost of mortality. As the technology of seed production of seabass is complex in nature, requiring expensive infrastructural facilities including the service of technically qualified personnel, Government Departments working in Journal of Extension Education 6167 this sector can take necessary steps for starting rearing units without much capital investment in areas where there is great scope for promoting cage aquaculture of Asian seabass. As the survival rate of the fishes is positively related to the size of the fishes stocked, it is recommended to purchase the seeds measuring up to a size of 3cm available at RGCA, rearing to a size of 7-8cm in the rearing units established Table 1. Technical Constraints in Adopting Recommended Practices in Cage Aquaculture Sl. No. Constraints Category score Frequency Weighted frequency Cumulative frequency Rank 1. Lack of knowledge vs ( 3 ) s (2 ) nss ( 1) 2 10 68 6 20 68 6 26 94 IV 2. Non availability of quality seeds vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss ( 1) 71 8 - 213 16 - 213 229 229 I 3. Non availability of feed vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 58 10 12 174 20 12 174 194 206 II 4. Lack of availability of good quality water throughout the culture period vs ( 3) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 4 15 61 12 30 61 12 42 103 III 5. Infection of disease vs ( 3 ) s (2 ) nss (1 ) - 5 75 - 10 75 - 10 85 V 6. Labour scarcity vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) - 4 76 - 8 76 - 8 84 VI vs - very serious s - serious nss - not so serious in prospective areas of the State and supplying the same to the farmers for stocking and culturing to a period of 8-10 months. It is pertinent in the case of fishes like seabass which shows cannibalism especially during the early stages of their life cycle. These rearing units can be entrusted to the farmer groups trained in rearing of seabass seeds. Such an approach will reduce the total input cost of the farmers Constraints in the Adoption of Cage Aquaculture Practices in Ernakulam District, Kerala 6168 Table 2. Economic Constraints in Adopting Recommended practices in Cage Aquaculture Sl. No. Constraints Category score Fre- quency Weighed frequency Cumulative frequency Rank 1. Poor market value of the product vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 2 5 73 6 10 73 6 16 89 X 2. High cost of feed vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 68 10 2 204 20 2 204 224 226 I 3. Lack of money for Cage construction vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 12 13 55 36 26 55 36 62 117 VII 4. Lack of credit vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 6 11 63 18 22 63 18 40 103 VIII 5. Lack of insurance vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 40 12 18 120 24 18 120 144 162 IV 6. Exploitation of farmers by commission agents vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 40 15 20 120 30 20 120 150 170 II 7. Perishable commodity resulting in losses vs ( 3 ) s (2 ) nss ( 1) 30 23 27 90 46 27 90 136 163 III 8. Erratic local demand for fish vs (3 ) s (2 ) nss (1 ) 4 8 68 12 16 68 12 28 96 IX 9. Lack of transportation facilities vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss ( 1) 3 43 34 9 86 34 9 95 129 V 10. High labour charge vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss ( 1) 9 13 68 27 26 68 27 53 121 VI 11. Poaching vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 2 3 75 6 6 75 6 12 87 XI Vs-very serious s serious nss not so serious Journal of Extension Education 6169 Table 3. Infrastructure/Administrative Constraints in Adopting Recommended Practices in Cage Aquaculture Sl. No. Constraints Category score Frequency Weighed frequency Cumulative frequency Rank 1. Lack of timely and adequate supply of seeds vs ( 3 ) s (2 ) nss (1 ) 48 18 14 120 56 12 144 200 212 I 2. Lack of trained officials vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss ( 1) 4 14 62 12 28 62 12 40 102 IX 3. Lack of frequent technical supervision and guidance vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 3 21 56 9 42 56 9 51 107 VII 4. Untimely supply of inputs and other materials vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) - 12 68 - 24 68 - 24 92 XI 5. Lackof communication regarding the services and other facilities available for fish farming vs (3 ) s (2 ) nss (1 ) - 9 71 - 18 71 - 18 89 XII 6. Location of fish collection centers at distant places vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 15 24 41 45 48 41 45 93 134 III 7. Lack of demonstration and training on recommended practices vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 8 19 53 24 38 53 24 62 115 VI 8. Lack of literature in simple language vs ( 3 ) s (2 ) nss (1 ) 3 20 57 9 40 57 9 49 106 VIII 9. Lack of cold storage facilities vs ( 3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 40 28 12 120 36 14 144 156 170 II Constraints in the Adoption of Cage Aquaculture Practices in Ernakulam District, Kerala 6170 to a great extent, ensure better survival rate of the seeds and act as a solution to overcome the problem of scarcity of seeds at present, in addition to creating more employment opportunities and income to them. The other important constraints were in the order of non - availability of feed, lack of availability of good quality water throughout the culture period, lack of knowledge, infection of disease and labour scarcity. It is evident from Table 2 that high cost of feed was the major economic constraint with a cumulative score of 226. About 60% of the total working capital expenditure of the farmer accounts for the cost of feed, which is a major constraint in aquaculture. This finding is in accordance with the finding of Patel and Triveni (1985) who reported that high price of feed is a major constraint in poultry farming. Kappen and Thomson (2009) also identified high cost of feed as one of the major constraints in adopting the improved freshwater fish farming. Generation of low - cost technologies and preparation of the feed using locally available ingredients together with suitable Government policies will help to remedy this. Other problems were exploitation of farmers by commission agents, perishable commodity resulting in losses, lack of insurance, lack of transportation facilities, high labour charge, lack of money for cage construction, lack of credit , erratic local demand for fish, poor market value of the product and poaching. It is evident from Table 3 that lack of timely and adequate supply of seeds was the major economic constraint with a cumulative score of 212. Vipinkumar and Asokan (2008) had also reported unpredicted seed availability as a major constraint in promoting mussel farming technology. It is natural that as the scarcity of the seeds Sl. No. Constraints Category score Frequency Weighed frequency Cumulative frequency Rank 10. Poor transfer of technologies vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss ( 1) 2 6 78 6 12 78 6 18 96 X 11. Lack of practical oriented training vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 16 15 49 48 30 49 48 78 127 IV 12. Lack of facilities for testing soil and water quality. vs (3 ) s ( 2 ) nss (1 ) 6 24 50 18 48 50 18 66 116 V vs very serious s serious nss not so serious Journal of Extension Education 6171 is the most important technical constraint, lack of timely and adequate supply of the seeds would be a major economic constraint experienced by the farmers in adopting the technology. Other constraints were lack of storage facilities, location of fish collection centers at distant places, lack of practical oriented training, lack of facilities for testing soil and water quality, lack of demonstration and training on recommended practices, lack of frequent technical supervision and guidance, lack of literature in simple language, lack of trained officials, poor transfer of technologies, untimely supply of inputs and other materials, lack of communication regarding the services and other facilities available for fish farming. CONCLUSION Among the various constraints facing the cage aquaculture farmers, the most important constraints were non - availability of quality seeds ( technical constraint), high cost of feed (economic constraint) and lack of timely and adequate supply of seeds (infrastructure/ administrative constraints). Overcoming these constraints and creating an environment congenial to carry out various activities will definitely lead to an increase in fish production, providing livelihood security, creating more employment to the fisherfolk, thus leading to additional utilization of the inland water bodies of the State of Kerala. It is suggested that Department of Fisheries in collaboration with different agencies like Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Self Help Groups (SHGs), research stations, financial agencies and other departments concerned through planned extension activities should play a vital role in overcoming the constraints faced by the cage aquaculture farmers. 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