Socio-economic assessment of seaweed farmers in Tamil Nadu - A case study in Ramanathapuram District

Narayanakumar, R and Krishnan, M (2013) Socio-economic assessment of seaweed farmers in Tamil Nadu - A case study in Ramanathapuram District. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 60 (4). pp. 51-57.

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Abstract

Seaweed mariculture is an economically viable livelihood option for the coastal fishing community especially for the fisherwomen. In Tamil Nadu, along the south-east coast of India, the organised seaweed farming on an industrial scale was initiated by the Pepsi Holdings India Private Limited (Pepsi Co) in 2000 in Gulf of Mannar in Ramanathapuram District. After proving the economic viability of seaweed farming, Pepsi Co modified its business model in 2003 by organising the fishers to take up seaweed farming on contract basis through Self Help Groups (SHGs). In this paper, an assessment of the socio-economic status of seaweed farmers in Ramnathapuram District of Tamil Nadu has been made, which is the pioneering district in India in seaweed farming. Fishing and seaweed farming are the most important occupations in this district. The average family size of respondents for the present study ranged from 4.5 in Mandapam to 5.5 in Rameswaram. Significant structural changes have taken place in the socio-economic status of many fishermen who have taken up seaweed farming over the last 10 years. In Ramanathapuram, seaweed farming is estimated to provide employment to the tune of 7,65,000 man days per annum based on the District’s plan. The gains, hitherto realised through the SHG model of seaweed farming, should be consolidated with consistent institutional and financial support to the seaweed farmers.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Employment generation; Livelihood option; Seaweed farming; Social impact; Socio-economic status; Structural change
Subjects:	Socio Economics and Extension Algae > Seaweed
Divisions:	CMFRI-Kochi > Socio-Economic Evaluation and Technology Transfer Division Subject Area > CMFRI > CMFRI-Kochi > Socio-Economic Evaluation and Technology Transfer Division CMFRI-Kochi > Socio-Economic Evaluation and Technology Transfer Division Subject Area > CMFRI-Kochi > Socio-Economic Evaluation and Technology Transfer Division
Depositing User:	Arun Surendran
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2014 11:11
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2015 15:57
URI:	http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/id/eprint/9814

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