Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Aquariculture as a livelihood option for rural women in India

International Conference on Aquaculture & Fisheries

July 20-22, 2015 Brisbane, Australia

T Anita Susan

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Aquac Res Development

Abstract:

Aquarium fish keeping has become a popular hobby and aquarium fish selling is recently gaining popularity as a trade in India. Ornamental fish trade can play a significant role in the economy of developing countries like India both as a foreign exchange earner and as a potential source for rural employment generation. Aquariculture form an important commercial component of aquaculture providing for aesthetic requirement and sustainability of the environment. Small scale aquariculture can augment the production of live bearers leading to the uplift of socio-economic conditions of women in India. Despite the enormous species availability ornamental fish culture is not promising in India when compared to South East Asian countries. In spite of having vast potential, domestic and international demand the sector has not received due attention either from research or by the industry and calls for systematic cataloguing of potentially important ornamental fish varieties, detailed study on their biology and behavior, breeding and husbandry. Although Andhra Pradesh ranks first in aquaculture it remained untapped in the area of aquariculture. The irregularities in the earning patterns of their men counter parts coupled with need for livelihood sustainability force most of the women to earn from a variety of fishery related activities like ornamental fishery and its allied sectors. Women as entrepreneurs can contribute much to the national productivity, generate employment opportunities, develop economic independence, improve standard of living leading to self confidence, enhanced awareness and sense of achievement. As such women fit into this particular entrepreneurial avenue owing to their enormous innate patience provided they are trained. Considerable effort is needed to capture the existing and latent entrepreneurial potential of women in this sector.