An analysis on the utilization pattern of reservoir cage farming in Khammam district of Telangana state
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Date
2021
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Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Thoothukudi
Abstract
Now a day’s reservoir cage farming is one of the effective methods of utilizing natural resources for enhancing better production in a limited time. Against this background, the present study was carried out to document the socio-economic profile, technology adoption practices and constraints faced by the reservoir cage farmers of Khammam district of Telangana state. In Khammam district, three reservoirs viz., Palair, Wyra and Lankasagar were purposively selected due to the predominance of cage farming in the selected reservoirs. A total of 120 progressive cage farmers were selected randomly and the first-hand information were collected through pre-structured interview schedule and the collected data were analyzed using the appropriate statistical tools. Totally, 15 independent variables were selected keeping the objectives in view.
The results revealed that most of the cage farmers belonged to old (39.17%) and young (30.83%) age group and about 42.50 per cent of the respondents were illiterate. About 45.00 per cent of the respondents had fisheries as their primary occupation and 85.84 per cent of them were married. It was observed that about 51.67 per cent of the farmers had an annual income of ₹ < 3.0 lakhs and 54.16 per cent of them had 2-4 years of experience in cage farming.
It is noteworthy to mention that medium level of information seeking behavior, social participation, mass media exposure, risk orientation, contact with extension agencies and scientific orientation were observed among 70.84 per cent, 65.84 per cent, 75.84 per cent, 58.34 per cent, 65.84 per cent and 67.50 per cent, respectively. Similarly, medium level of decision making behavior and participation in trainings were noticed among 66.66 per cent and 55.00 per cent of the reported farmers, respectively. While use of anchors and bottom weights, farming technologies, fish seed quality and type of marketing practices were mainly adopted by 56.66 per cent, 53.33 per cent, 51.66 per cent and 50.83 per cent of the reservoir cage farmers, respectively, periodic sampling and grading (58.33%), disease diagnosis (57.50%), water quality management (54.16%), use of minerals and chemicals (54.16%) and application of fish feed and organic manure (54.16%), record maintenance (54.16%) were partially adopted. Age (X1), Experience in cage farming (X6), Participation in trainings (X15) showed significance at 1.00 per cent level and found to be positively correlated. Occupational status (X3), Annual income (X4), Information seeking behavior (X5), Contact with extension agency (X12), and Decision making behavior (X14) had positive correlation at 5.00 per cent level of significance. The estimated R2 value was 0.524 which clearly indicate that 52.40 per cent of the variations observed among the independent variables were explained in the extent of adoption of farming practices by the cage farmers.
Among the identified constraints (15 nos.), less market price (I), slow growth rate of fish (II) and lack of technical knowledge in cage farming were reported as the most significant constraints by 91.66 per cent, 90.00 per cent and 89.16 per cent of the surveyed farmers, respectively. Establishment of Aqua feed mills and shops on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and fish hatcheries and seed rearing centers and imparting Skill development training and awareness programs on cage farming practices and usage of ICT tools shall encourage the farmers to adopt the advanced cage farming practices intensively.