Socio-economic profile of inland fishermen and fish farmers of Telangana state

Abstract

The study was conducted in six districts of Telangana state to analyse the profile characteristics of respondents (fishermen and fish farmers). The research employs an ex-post facto research design, collecting data from 240 fishermen and 60 fish farmers across six districts. Personal interview method was used to collect data and appropriate statistical tools were applied to analyse the data. The majority of fishermen were middle-aged (47.08%) and illiterate (49.58%), engaging in Fishing + Agriculture labor + Agriculture (33.33%), with medium fishing experience (40.83%) and low income (52.50%). They exhibited low extension contact (46.67%) and low innovativeness (40.00%), with medium economic motivation (47.08%) and medium group cohesiveness (40.00%). Fish farmers, also mostly middle-aged (46.67%), were educated up to high school (31.67%), involved in Fish farming + Agriculture + Livestock (56.67%), with low fish farming experience (45.00%) and medium income level (38.33%). They displayed high economic motivation (53.33%) and high market orientation (50.00%), with a significant portion owning ponds (90.00%) of more than 0.5 hectare in size (35.00%).