Adoption behaviour of the farmers of Goalpara district of India towards aquaculture technology

Abstract

A study was conducted during 2009 to 2010 to investigate the adoption behaviour of the fish growers towards the innovations in aquaculture technology in Goalpara district of Assam. The district produces 5,347 tonnes of fish per annum against its biophysical potential of 40,969.25 tonnes. Seven critical recommended practices of pond management were selected to study the extent of adoption and correlated with thirteen socio-economic and psychological variables of the growers. Statistical techniques and tools like frequency and percentage analysis, mean score, standard deviation (SD), Co-efficient of variance (CV) and simple correlation were used. The results revealed that the farmers of the district have not yet adopted the recommended package of practices and they lack entrepreneurial spirit in aquaculture operation. The study suggested the need of paradigm shift from the current perception on aquaculture as a poverty alleviation programme to a prestigious income generating enterprise. Key-words: Aquaculture, adoption behaviour, pond management, scaling up.