AQUACULTURE AS A LIVELIHOOD OPTION FOR TRIBAL FARMERS OF PHAILIN AFFECTED GANJAM DISTRICT, ODISHA STATE

Ganjam, a coastal district in Odisha State, was hit by the cyclone 'Phailin' on 12 October, 2013 and severe damages happened to aquatic resources. The livelihood of many including tribal farmers of the district were greatly affected as they mainly depend on daily wages and agricultural activities. To support their livelihood conditions, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India has funded a project (2016-2019) entitled "Carp seed production and integrated fish farming technology for livelihood development of Phailin affected tribal farmers of Ganjam District, Odisha" to ICAR-CIFA. The project is operating in four Community Development (C.D.) Blocks, namely Sanakhemundi, Khallikote, Digapahandi and Kukudakhandi. Two model villages namely, Daseipur of Sanakhemundi Block and Sujanasahi of Khallikote Block were identified for the present study.

Daseipur village with 65 numbers of beneficiaries mainly depend on daily wages and agriculture; their average per capita annual income was Rs. 30,500/- in 2016 (prior to adoption); has 5 numbers of ponds with total 7.2 ha water spread area (WSA) from where total fish production was 3,555 kg/yr. During 2017-2018, they adopted scientific aquaculture practices, learned seed rearing and aquaculture practices; each beneficiary to carry out fish culture operation spent 26 hours in 7 months of culture period and produced 11,665 kg fish from 7.2 ha pond area which was 3.28 times higher than the pre-adoption level. By calculating profit from the harvested fish, it was increased from Rs. 2,79,450/- to Rs. 8,84,952/- resulting in per capita profit gain of Rs. 9,315/-. This contribution was 30.5% over the per capita income per year from fish culture side. They could add one new pond of 0.5 ha for stocking of brood fish and one FRP carp hatchery for seed production in 2018-19.  

Twenty three beneficiaries in Sujansahi Village of Khallikote Block were adopted; agriculture is the main livelihood option for them; their average per capita annual income was Rs. 30,380/- in 2016 (prior to adoption); has 3 ponds of 0.8 ha total WSA; has total fish production 495 kg/0.8 ha/yr prior to adoption. After adoption of scientific aquaculture practices, they could produce 1400 kg/0.8 ha/yr fish which was 2.8 times more than the base level. An additional profit of Rs. 99,550/- was generated from aquaculture in 8 months of culture period. Each beneficiary could add an additional income of Rs 4,328/- to his yearly income from aquaculture side.

From the study, it was found that by dissemination of scientific aquaculture technologies, the tribal people could adopt it as a major livelihood option for them. FRP carp hatcheries have been provided to them for producing seed for own pond stocking and income generation from seed sale.