Studies on Dependency, Life and Livelihood Issues of Small Fish Farmer Communities at Raniganj-Barakar Colliery Zone of Burdwan District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Aquaculture represents the fastest growing food sector industry in the world. It is the source of livelihood of millions of common people. But with changing socio-economic conditions, poor marginal fish farmers are now facing problems to continue their age-old traditional profession. A good number of traditional small fish farmers either switch over to some other professions or are forced to take up some other additional jobs to meet their basic needs. Not only that, in the age of globalisation a significant number of small fish farmers turns into labour of fishery industry. In this connection a two years extensive socio-economic study of the small fish farmer community has been conducted at Raniganj-Barakar colliery zone (Burdwan district) of West Bengal. The study indicates that the reasons behind the unsustainable conditions of the small fish farmers are mostly due to lack of proper training, lack of functional co-operative system, lack of awareness, insufficient governmental support and political interference.