ANTECEDENTS AND MANAGERIAL EFFICIENCY OF THE INLAND FISH FARMERS

Abstract

The study was carried out in Anand district of Gujarat state with 150 randomly selected inland fish farmers. A pre-tested interview schedule was prepared in light of the objectives and respondents were interviewed either at their home or work place. Ex-post facto research design was used. For measurement of variables, different scales and scoring techniques were used. The result designated that majority of inland fish farmers had medium to high level of knowledge regarding fish farming management practices, ability in planning, ability in coordinating activities, budgeting ability, competence in evaluation of situation and market orientation with very high to medium level of adoption of scientific inland fish farming practices and neutral to favourable attitude towards inland fish farming with low to medium level of information seeking ability, ability to make rational decisions and ability to mobilize resources. Among all the indicators which determine the managerial efficiency, Market orientation performed best followed by attitude towards inland fish farming, competence in evaluation of situation, ability in planning, knowledge regarding fish farming management practices, budgeting ability, ability to make rational decisions, information seeking ability and ability to mobilize resources, whereas ability in coordinating activities and adoption of scientific inland fish farming practices were not up to the mark. The overall managerial efficiency of inland fish farmer was found to be 57.10 per cent. The result amongst the nineteen selected variables of the of inland fish farmers in the study education, caste, annual income, participation in training, contact with extension agency, exposure to agricultural mass media, pond size, economic motivation, risk orientation, achievement motivation, scientific orientation, innovation proneness and self confidence had establish positive and significant relationship with the managerial efficiency of inland fish farmers, whereas age and social participation failed to show any significant influence on the managerial efficiency of inland fish farmers.