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Not AvailableSundarban area of West Bengal State in India is a complex-diverse-risk prone agro-ecosystem grappled with degraded soil, water logging, brackish ground water and marginal farm holdings. South west monsoon rain-fed paddy crop is the major production system and the farm families have to migrate to other areas for employment during the post-monsoon season. Farm pond based rain water harvesting and optimally utilizing it to cultivate vegetables and rearing fish in the pond would provide them employment, income and self-reliance on a sustainable basis is the solution. Rain water harvesting based production system models namely, land shaping for aqua-agri integration, brackishwater pond based polyculture and paddy-cum-fish farming were implemented to 370 beneficiary families to enhance the livelihood security at Kakdwip and Namkhana blocks of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. A set of 15 indicators were identified by the subject matter scientists to assess the outcome of the interventions in enhancing the livelihood security of farm families. Impact analysis was done using ‘before vs after’ and control vs treatment research design. Primary data were collected from the sample of 120 proportionate random sample beneficiary farm families using a structured questionnaire and focus group meetings. The findings substantially indicated that all the three farming models have contributed for enhancing the livelihood security levels of the farm families in terms of creation of livelihood asset mainly the farm pond, conservation of natural water for multiple cropping and aquaculture, enhanced capabilities, employment generation, improved production from the land/pond, enhanced income from farming, access to better market price, access to development institutions, minimization of migration during off-season, enhanced self-reliant, and social status of the farm families. The analyses have confirmed that all the three farming models have significantly contributed for the livelihood security of the coastal farm families (p<0.01). Therefore, the study suggested that the Government may evolve a scheme with inbuilt subsidy in up-scaling these models in the entire Sundarban region for enhancing the livelihood security of farm families.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableJal Tarang Series 2015 in HindiNot Availabl

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Not AvailableMud Crab is one of the most valuable crustaceans in both domestic and export markets. They are hardy and can survive out of water for extended periods at lower temperatures making them ideal species for live export to other countries and the domestic market. There are four commercially important species of mud crab, Scylla serrata, S. tranquebarica, s.olivacea and s.paramanosain and they are the focus of commercial fisheries and aquaculture product throughout their distributionNot Availabl

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Production System and Societal Devolopment

Not AvailableFor several hundreds of years crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs has been raised in coastal aquaculture ponds in many South East Asian countries including India. The advent of sophisticated refrigeration techniques and transportation facilities provided access to the artisanal aquafarmers to the lucrative international markets. Thus traditional coastal aquaculture transformed to an export oriented and industrialized aquaculture. Although many crustaceans attract lucrative markets, shrimp has become the single most successful crop, and that form the mainstay of coastal/brackishwater in India and across the world. In addition to penaeid shrimps, other crustaceans such as mud crabs have been gaining importance due to the high market demand. Any species can only be rationally cultivated when there is an extensive knowledge on biology of those species (Dall et al 1990). At this context, this article outlines the major biological aspects of penaeid shrimps and mud crabs.Not Availabl