Analysis of empirical constraints faced by the officials of the department of fisheries, Konkan region, Maharashtra

Introduction

The fisheries sector has been recognized as a powerful income and employment generator as it stimulates growth of a number of subsidiary industries and is a source of cheap and nutritious food, at the same time it is an instrument of livelihood for a large section of economically backward population of the country. More than 6 million fishers in the country depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihood. Fisheries and aquaculture have emerged as an important commercial activity from its traditional role as subsistence supplementary activity (Kumar et al. 2003) [5] . The Maharashtra is endowed with a coastline of 720 km and the area suitable for marine fishing is 1.12 lakh sq. km There are 15,716 marine fishing boats in operation, of which 13,002 are mechanized. In addition to this, the area suitable for inland and brackish water fishing in the state is 4.19 lakh ha and 0.10 lakh ha respectively There are 152 fish landing centres on the coastline of the state. The coastal regions of Maharashtra, encompassing districts such as Thane, Palghar, Mumbai (City), Mumbai (Suburban), Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. These areas serve as critical nodes for marine fishery activities, contributing substantially to the state's overall production metrics. In 2021-22, Maharashtra's marine fish production was documented at 4,32,748 tonnes (DOF, Government of Maharashtra) [2] . The officials from Department of Fisheries (DoF) playing a key role in developing and implementing various schemes and policies for fisheries development in their respective states. The success of any fisheries or agricultural extension services is primarily dependent on the extension skills of these technical workforce (Kashem et al. 2001) [4] . Government interventions in fisheries in the developed maritime nations, through a range of social security measures and subsidies have contributed to strengthening capabilities and reducing vulnerabilities among fisher communities (Kurien 2006) [6] . Union and state fisheries department had implemented various fisheries development programmes in the marine fisheries sector which includes motorization of country craft, providing financial assistance for construction of mechanized fishing vessels, providing subsidy on the purchase of diesel for mechanized fishing vessels, providing subsidy on the VAT for the purchase of diesel etc. These schemes are implemented at various levels such as Central Government through NFDB and NCDC; State Government through Department of Fisheries and Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation and District level schemes are implemented by the Department of Fisheries. But often they face various constraints while implementing these schemes. Constraint based studies have been done in other states and union territories like Angral et al. (2017) [1] carried out study on in their study on constraints faced by fisheries extension service provider in www.extensionjournal.com Jammu & Kashmir region. Pandey (2009) [9] reported the constraints faced by officials of DoF, Tripura in the transfer of improved aquaculture technologies. Pathak et al. (2014) [11] studied problems perceived by Fisheries Extension Officers (FEOs) of Assam and West Bengal (W.B.). Patil and Sharma (2021) [14] prioritized the training needs of extension personnel in Ratnagiri. There are a few studies done with reference to the constraints faced by the DoF officials in context of Maharashtra. Analysing these constraints is very essential for effectively implementation of the scheme and ensure its sustainability. In view of the above, the study was conducted to analyse the constraints faced by the DoF officials in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.

Materials and Methods

The study was carried out in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, viz., Palghar-Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district. A total of 36 fisheries officials from 4 districts of Konkan region i.e. Palghar-Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district. A thorough review of literature and discussions with an expert group were done in order to list out various constraints faced by officials of DoF. A total of 50 constraints were then categorised under nine heads viz. extension and training, administrative and management, technical, input supply, financial, feedback physiological, social and general. Interview schedule was used to collect information regarding constraints faced by officials of DoF. A three point Likert scale was used to test the level of agreement of official towards the respective constraints. This scale was 1 to 3, where, 3-most severe, 2medium severe and 1 -Not severe, and. Weighted Average (WA) technique was used to rank various constraints faced by fisheries officials. Weighted Mean Score Value was calculated for each constraint. The weighted average was calculated as given below:

Weighted average = Sum (X1.W1 + X 2.W2 + X3.W3) / sum (W1+W2 +W3) Where, X 1, X 2, X 3, = Frequency of the respective constraints W1, W2, W3, = Weighted values i.e. 1, 2, 3

The Friedman rank test, a non-parametric test (distributionfree) used to compare observations repeated on the same subjects. It was used to test if there was a significant difference between each constraint.

Results and Discussion

Constraints faced by officials of department of fisheries of Konkan region, Maharashtra were divided into nine categories i.e., extension and training, administrative and management, technical, input supply, financial, feedback, physiological, social and general. Table 1 presents the weighted average obtained for each constraint. It is observed from table 1 that, administrative constraints were the first and foremost ranked constraints faced by officials of coastal districts of Maharashtra with weighted average of 15.09, while financial constraints were ranked as second with weighted average of 14.60, third ranked constraint faced by officials was input supply with weighted average of 14.50 whereas the least ranked constraint was technical constraints with weighted average of 11.81. Friedman rank test, a nonparametric test (distribution-free) used to test if there was a significant difference between each constraint. The result revealed that there was a significant difference among different constraints at a 5% level of significance and the null hypothesis (H O ) is rejected (p<0.05). This indicates that the constraints affect DoF officials differently depending on the nature of the work they perform. Further discussion on each constraint in detail is discussed as follows. [15] also reported insufficient funds for training and lack of transport facilities for field visits. The results are line with the present study. Jadon et al. (2017) [3] also reported lack of transportation facilities was a constraint perceived by officials of the Department of animal husbandry in Haryana. Yadav (2022) [17] reported that the extension service providers of Rajasthan had undergone few trainings and less emphasis was given on practical skills during training programmes. The officials stated that the training www.extensionjournal.com programmes were more theoretical, lacking practical skills regarding fisheries/aquaculture and less training literature. Patil (2021) [13] revealed that less training on scientific farming practices as well as less skill for conducting demonstrations was the extension constraint ranked at first by extension personnel followed by less availability of training material, while the least ranked extension constraint was few trainings on communication skills in Konkan region of Maharashtra. (2024) [15] while studying constraints faced by the officials of DoF found that burden of additional duties and diversified duties and assignments. While studying the constraints faced by extension service providers in Rajasthan, Yadav (2022) [17] discovered that the burden of additional duty and non-cooperation from other linked departments were the most significant administrative and management constraints. Similarly, Patil and Sharma (2021) [13] in their study reported that, fisheries extension personnel from DoF in Maharashtra faced administrative constraints like inadequate staff strength, frequent transfer etc. Jadoun et al. (2017) [3] reported on the administrative constraints faced by animal husbandry officials in Haryana, including a heavy workload during peak season and lack of staff.

According to a study conducted by Angral et al. (2017) [1] in Jammu and Kashmir, DoF officials did not get full cooperation from respondents, causing participation in trainings and technology transfer. According to Patel et al.

(2016) [10] , the most significant administrative constraint faced by Karnataka extension personnel is insufficient staff strength in the agriculture department, which leads to increased workload. Pathak et al. (2014) [11] investigated the constraints of fisheries extension officers in Assam and West Bengal, identifying administrative constraints such as late promotion and transfer problems, as well as additional duties such as census work and election duties, as the most significant constraints.

Technical constraints

The results of [15] studied constraints faced by the officials of DoF, he stated that technical constraints like lack of information on improved technologies within time was high in severity whereas, lack of internet connection in office was medium severe in the Vidarbha region. Yadav (2022) [17] reported Less availability of the latest fisheries literature as most severe among the extension service providers in Rajasthan. Researchers like Majhi (2001) [7] ; Misha et al. (2016) [8] and Pathak et al. (2014) [11] have also reported that poor infrastructure, non-availability of training literature, and non-availability of equipment's as major constraints faced by fisheries extension personnel. www.extensionjournal.com [15] stated that increased demand for inputs and untimely input supply are constraints with high in severity. Misha et al. (2016) [8] also reported increased demand of inputs and untimely supply of inputs are severe constraints in transfer of technology in Maharashtra. Patil et al. (2017) [12] who reported that input supply as the most severe constraint perceived by the extension personnel of the agriculture department of Maharashtra.

Financial constraints

The results in [11] reported finance-related problems faced by FEOs of Assam and W.B. including issues like late salaries, irregular payment of travel allowance/dearness allowance disparity in pay scales. Rathod et al. (2024) [15] while studying constraints of officials of DoF of Vidarbha region reported no compensation or incentives for additional work, Salary is less as compared to nature of work and Inadequate grants for programme/activities as the major financial constraints.

Patel et al. (2016) [10] , while studying constraints of extension personnel in Karnataka reported insufficient salary as compared to work load as the second major financial constraint. Similarly, Misha et al. (2016) [8] also reported the similar financial constraint. Patil et al. (2017) [12] reported extension personnel of the fisheries department in Maharashtra faced financial constraints like no compensation or incentives for additional work. Patil (2021) [13] studied the constraints faced by extension personnel in coastal districts of Maharashtra. The study reported that insufficient salary as compared to work load, inadequate TA & DA were the most severe financial constraint faced by extension personnel of all the coastal districts of Maharashtra. Yadav (2022) [16] revealed inadequate and untimely grants for programmes/activities as a major constraint in Rajasthan. It was also reported that no compensation or incentives for additional work was provided in Private organisations and NGOs. These officials stated that fewer grants for programmes/activities were there and the grants were untimely. Similar results have been reported by Jadoun et al. (2017) [3] in Haryana.

Feedback constraints

Table 7 presents feedback constraints faced by officials of DoF in Konkan region. The result revealed that among the feedback constraints less response from fishers (14.67) ranked first by the officials of Konkan region followed by no recognition for good work from fishers (14.00). whereas the least ranked constraint was unable to evaluate feedback (10.50). The non-parametric Friedman test revealed that there was a significant difference among the constraints at a 5% level of significance and the null hypothesis (H 0 ) is rejected (p<0.05).

The findings of the present study are similar to other studies on constraints faced by extension personnel. Yadav (2022) [17] while studying constraints faced by extension service providers in Rajasthan reported that less response from fishers, less recognition for good work from fishers. Similarly, Angral et al. (2017) [1] in their study reported that major constraints faced by implementing agency were low level of people participation. Jadon et al. (2017) [3] also reported inadequate cooperation from the animal husbandry farmers in Haryana. [8] also revealed that the extension personnel in Maharashtra are deprived of social programmes and religious functions because of heavy work load. The study also reported non availability of residential quarters as a major constraint. Similar finding was reported by Patil et al. (2017) [12] for extension personnel of agriculture department Maharashtra. Yadav (2022) [16] also reported similar findings of less time to participate in domestic, religious, and social programmes due to heavy workloads was also reported as a constraint. Rathod et al. (2024) [15] also reported the lack of time to participle in social Programme and lack of time to participate in domestic/religious programmes as a major social constraint.

Physiological constraints

Physiological related constraints faced by the officials of DoF are presented in Table 9. Major physiological related constraint faced by officials of DoF in Konkan region was always under tension due to political interference (15.17) followed by body pains and illness due to continuous travelling (14.33), while the least ranked physiological constraint was more field visits with weighted average of 12.67. Friedman rank test results revealed that there was no significant difference among the physiological faced by the officials (p>0.05) as the P-value was 0.030.

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