Author(s): A. MAITY, B. SAHA, S. S. DANA, R. GUPTA AND 1U. K. BANDYOPADHYAY

Abstract: Shrimp aquaculture has been practicing in India for centuries in a traditional manner in a certain coastal state, but it has made its presence felt by contributing to the socio-economic development of the country only in recent years. The practice of white-leg shrimp farming is gaining popularity in most of the areas of West Bengal, encompassing with different activities towards generating livelihood among the shrimp farmers. The area under Penaeus vannamei culture in West Bengal is reported to be 4,127 ha and production of the shrimp in the year 2017-18 is 22,191MT. In view of recent set back of brackish water shrimp farming and for overall development of aquaculture, it is necessary to study socio-economic profile of shrimp farmers. Thus, the present study was undertaken in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal among randomly selected 200 shrimp farmers to study their socio-economic profile. Data were collected with the help of structured interview schedule with observation method. Results of the study showed that most of the vannamei shrimp farmers belonged to the age groups of 36-50 years (53.5%), while majority (56%) growers had education up to middle level (Class VIII standard). Most (60%) of the respondents belonged to nuclear family type and majority (65%) belonged to small family (up to 5 members). 85% of them had sole occupation of vannamei farming only whereas, majority (51.5%) of the vannamei farmers belonged to general caste. 83.5% per cent of respondents were holding up to 2 acres of land and 41 % of respondents had low level of social participation while majority (53.3%) had medium level of economic motivation. Proper training, scientific management, sufficient financial support by Government, infrastructural development for implementation of problem soothing rules at field level can help to increase the production which in turn uplift the socio-economic status of the P. vannamei farmers.

DOI: 10.22271/09746315.2020.v16.i3.1373

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