ENTERPRENEURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG KHARWA FISHERWOMEN OF VERAVAL, GUJARAT

Seafood plays an important role in food and nutritional security of nearly one-fifth of global population. In India there are 5.4 million people directly or indirectly engaged in fisheries activities, of which, 3.8 million are fishermen and 1.6 million are fisherwomen. Among the maritime states, Gujarat continued to being the topmost position since 2014 with 7.86 lakh tonnes production (CMFRI, 2018). Traditionally, fishing was the subsistence occupation of kharwa communities in Veraval, Gujarat. In kharwa community, women play a significant role in maintaining household and community needs. They are mostly involved in fish selling in the local market and or as labours in different seafood processing plants of Veraval. Their role in fishery sector is unarticulated and unacknowledged. Kharwa fisherwomen generally don't venture into entrepreneurship, primarily due to lack of skills and marketing opportunities.

ICAR-Veraval RC of CIFT has been engaged in identifying and implementing potential livelihood options for the kharwa fisherwomen through technologies developed at the institute. VRC of ICAR CIFT has identified a fisherwomen's Society, Sagar Manthan Machhimar Utthan Mandal (SMMUM) for training and skill development. With the financial support from NFDB, a series of skill development programme was conducted by the team of scientists on local need based value added products like fish cheese ball, fish cutlet, fish samosa, shrimp pickle, fish pickle and fish sandwich. After training, the women from the society were encouraged to participate in local melas for the marketing of their products. ICAR-CIFT has supported the group in getting the space for stall and provided logistic support. In their first mela participation the group earned a profit of Rs 47,000 in three days. The initial success encouraged them to take the venture in big way.Currently the society has applied for registration and started their brand "Real taste of Seafood" which is also applied for trade mark registration. The skill development programme and other support from ICAR-CIFT is bringing a positive change in the community which will have long lasting impact on societal development.