Extension scientists transfer proven technologies to the farmers as well as to the state

departements with a view to reduce the time lag between the technology generation and its

adoption. They also provide the first-hand feedback regarding the adoption of technologies,

constraints and behavioural pattern of clients so that research, education and training programmes

can be re-oriented accordingly. The purpose of this study was to disseminate proven fishery

technologies to extension agencies and fishermen and thus supplement their income using local

resources

Gupta, Jancy

CMFRI Digital Repository

«*j4l nm*m H?MI MARINE FISHERIES INFORMATION SERVICE *4 I Jii SI I ' l l MB! II !")<>•] I Jt#-: T*7*** * *"* f « ^S^C^ 1 \ndk ' '^; *'' 'm " * • **< -* W « » ^ T « f * r x ^ g - TECHNICAL AND f ^ ? r i r c 3T«l5T<acs£t EXTENSION SERIES feeler iFTCJ^t TTlfeTOgst CENTRAL MARINE FI 3 f ^ W U W WFCrCT RESEARCH INSTITUTE QSlfCT, ^ITcT COCHIN, INDIA INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FIRSTLINE EXTENSION PROGRAMMES — AN IMPACT STUDY Jancy Gupta Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin - 682 014 Extension scientists transfer proven tech-nologies to the farmers as well as to the state departements with a view to reduce the time lag between the technology generation and its adoption. They also provide the first-hand feed-back regarding the adoption of technologies, constraints and behavioural pattern of clients so that research, education and training pro-grammes can be re-oriented accordingly. Keeping this in view, a 'planned change in a coastal village' - a model for firstline extension programme was conceptualised. The purpose of this study was to disseminate proven fishery technologies to extension agencies and fishermen and thus supplement their income using local resources. Planned change implies the decision to effect improvements in the social system with the help of professional guidance. For implemen-tation of the programme in Kandakkadavu, at first a bench-mark survey was carried out and characteristics of population, resources and needs were assessed. The field level extension programme was launched keeping in view the following objectives. — To identify the problems, needs and the resources available in the village. — To Co - ordinate the three elements of the programme, i.e., people, extension agencies and resources for carrying out field level action programme. — To evaluate the programme. To ensure people's participation in the programme, a fishermen forum was established in the village. Periodical meetings of fishermen forum were held to discuss ongoing programmes and future course of action. Extension education programmes were launched to disseminate tech-nologies for scientific prawn culture and value-added product from low-cost fish. Scientific prawn culture To make people aware that water canals in coconut groves and homestead can be used for scientific prawn culture, and emphasise the possibility of prawn culture in off-season i.e. March-June, a demonstration was carried out in one such canal, with the technical help of KVK. A field day and mass contact programme were arranged in connection with the harvest. Demonstration of small scale prawn hatchery Technology for the production of prawn seeds in small hatcheries or backyard hatcheries was demonstrated which attracted a large number of people. This technology was found to be very appropriate for this particular area. Training programmes including lecture-cum-demonstration on prawn seed collection were organised. Value-added products from low-cost fish Training programmes were conducted for groups of selected members from the project area on preparation offish pickles, cutlets, wafers and 6 dried fish from low-cost fish. The impact studies conducted afterwards showed remarkable gain in knowledge and adoption of these practices. This project helped the beneficiaries to identify their needs and enabled them to realise how to supplement their income using local resources. Aspirations of marine fishermen The level and types of aspirations of marine fishermen in general was analysed and highest level of aspiration was for education of children followed by possession of fishing gear and fishing craft. Twelve independent variables contribution to aspiration as dependent variable were subjected to correlation, regression and path analysis (Table 1). Out of the twelve variables craft ownership and possession of outboard engine were found to be dominant variables in deter-mining a higher level of aspiration (Table 2). Utilization of communication media by fisher-men The study on utilization of communication media by fishermen indicated the high level of preference to mass media for obtaining first-hand information. The maximum score was obtained by newspaper followed by radio, fellow fishermen, fishery officials, film show and periodicals (Table 3). Regarding the regularity of use and extent of coverage of items, newspaper emerged as the most prominent medium. Adoption of quality control measures in prawn peeling units A study conducted in the peeling sheds around Cochin clearly brought out the quality control measures available in centralised and decentralised prawn peeling units and the extent of difference between the two units. The centralised units built'according to government guidelines and functioning under good supervi-sion proved to be remarkably better than the decentralised units in respect of all parameters. Entrepreneurial behaviour of prawn farmers An increasing tendency was observed to adopt scientific prawn culture. During past two years, progressive farmers have switched over to the culture of P. monodon the more economic TABLE 1. Correlation and path analysis of independent variables with 'Aspiration' as dependent variable SI. No. 1. 2. 3. 4 . 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Independent variables X,. Craft ownership X n Extension participation Xc Possession of outboard b engine X12 Value orientation Xg Adoption of improved practices X^ Family size X, Eduaction status of respondents Xg Risk orientation X4 Family education Xj Family structure X10 Information source contact ^ Credit utilization Correlation coefficients 0.137 0.190 * 0.217 * 0.188 * 0.196 0.067 0.127 0.003 0.067 0.005 0.049 0.048 Direct effects 0.261 0.190 0.186 0.176 0.166 0.165 0.155 0.085 0.079 0.068 0.027 0.007 Total indirect effects 0.137 0.178 0.218 0.164 0.196 0.067 0.127 0.009 0.067 0.005 0.049 0.047 I 0.028 0.019 0.107 0.020 0.120 0.004 0.020 0.029 0.041 0.022 0.057 0.029 Substantial indirect effects (12) (12) (8) (9) (6) (12) ( I D ( ID (6) (5) (11) (12) through II 0.006 0.016 0.017 0.014 0.017 0.002 0.013 0.011 0.035 0.015 0.033 (1) (3) (4) (8) (4) (7) (6) (1) (8) (4) (3) 0.023 (11) III 0.003 (4) 0.013 (9) 0.011 (11) 0.008 (6) 0.007 (11) 0.002 (6) 0.0003 (7) 0.0003 (7) 0.013 (1) 0.014 (9) 0.019 (6) 0.019 (5) Significant at 1 per cent level. 7 TABLE 2. Level and types of aspiration of selected marine fishermen Area of aspirat ion Children House Land holding Sub-occupat ion Material possess ion Mass media possession Fishing gear Fishing craft Category Low Medium High Low Medium High Low Medium High Low Medium High Low Medium High Low Medium High Low Medium High Low Medium High Frequency 34 89 13 56 57 2 3 101 27 8 40 81 15 31 82 23 23 99 14 31 94 11 54 44 38 Percentage 25 66 9 41.2 41 .9 16.8 74 .3 19.9 5.9 29.4 59.6 11.0 22.8 60.3 16.9 16.9 72.8 10.3 22.8 69.1 8.1 39.7 32.4 27 .9 Mean 4 .58 1.23 0.34 1.28 1.17 2.56 2.90 2.67 S.D. 2 .91 1.16 0 .16 1.23 1.14 1.80 2.26 1.08 Rank I VI VIII V VII rv II m TABLE 3. Preference for the communication media use in first-information Sources Newspaper Periodicals Radio Film show Exhibition Demonstrat ion Training Fishery officials Research inst i tut ion Fellow fishermen Mean score 1.72 0.14 1.54 0.24 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.87 0.04 1.05 Rank I VI II V VIII VIII IX rv VII m species inspite of the difficulty in procuring the seed. Paucity of seed, inability to identify the seeds of P. indicus (when caught from wild) and ignorance regarding importance of compounded feed were the major impediments in adoption of scientific prawn culture. A few outstanding entrepreneurs were follwing all the practices of scientific prawn farming including eradication of pests, exchange of water using pump, giving compounded feed, periodical monitoring, checking the level of oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH etc. High entrepreneurial behaviour was found associated with higher production. Constraints in fishery extension and sugges-tions for improvement Extension is still a weak link in fisheries development. The constraints responsible for the slow pace of mariculture developement include lack of information on the economics of technol-ogy, lack of large scale extension programmes, inadequate use of mass media for communication and shortage of manpower in the field of extension. Presently extension programmes are being taken up in a very limited number of villages. There is an urgent need to strengthen the extension activities on capture and culture fisheries based on sound planning and evalua-tion. Fishermen have to be made aware of the importance of conservation of the depleting marine resources. Awareness campaigns, sym-posia, seminar, group discussion and audiovisual show are to be organised effectively. Mass media may be effectively used to communicate the first hand information as these media are popular with fisherfolk, particularly those in Kerala. In order to provide the feed back regarding the transfer of technologies, research on the behavioural aspects of fishermen in capture and culture fisheries is needed. For the effective technology transfer to clientile, information re-garding their socio-psychological characteristics, problems, needs and aspirations are necessary. Research in fisheries extension is also of prime improtance to evolve suitable methods of com-munication, strategies for technology transfer and for efficient programme planning and imple-mentation. 9 

Firstline extension programmes — An impact study

http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/3565/1/Article_05.pdf

Firstline extension programmes — An impact study

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

CMFRI Digital Repository