Abstract

Uttam Kumar Baruah, Jyotish Barman, Hitu Choudhury and Popiha Bordoloi

A study was conducted in five rural development blocks of India to investigate the training needs of freshwater fish growers. A total of fifty fish growers having training exposures were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Independent variables included thirteen socio-economic parameters and dependant variables included seven critical technical areas. Frequency and percentage, mean score, standard deviation (SD), co-efficient of variance (CV) and simple correlation were analyzed. The study revealed that majority of the respondents need trainings on water quality management (80%). Only 16 and 10% respondents expressed training need on fish seed handling and transportation, and fish nutrition and feeding, respectively. Negatively significant correlations were observed between interest and attitude towards fish farming age and education. Individual independent characteristic and training needs of the farmers had negative correlations with education (X2) (p<0.01) and attitude (X13) (p<0.05). Positively significant correlation between possession of pond (X5) and age (X1) (p<0.01), income (X4) and age (X1) (p<0.01), economic motivation (X7) and age (X1) (p<0.01), decision-making ability (X8) and age (X1) (p<0.05), attitude (X13) and education (X2) (p<0.05), income (X4) and main occupation (X3)(p<0.05). The study concluded that before assessing the training needs, the fish growers of the district should be made aware of the latest technologies in aquaculture.