Rural Pisciculture as a Sustainable Livelihood of Self-Help Group Members of Birbhum District of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Pisciculture is an important source of livelihood for resource poor farmers as well as Self Help Group (SHGs) member of West Bengal. Fish culture generating regular flow of income helps SHGs to meet their food and nutritional security. The present paper examined the performance of the fishery groups and impact of earning of Self Help Groups on their households and threats related to this economic activity as well as social & economic empowerment of the women members of SHG. The study is based on primary as well as secondary data, which was collected with the help of semi-structured interview survey schedule from 19 rural blocks of Birbhum district of West Bengal. This study has focused on the functioning of 93 SHGs of Birbhum district comprising of 1001 members belonging to Below Poverty Line families under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana. Totally 93 SHGs included 45 male, 38 female and 10 mixed SHGs respectively. Focus group discussions were conducted to crosscheck the collected data. The survey revealed that cash credit and project loan was used for better sustainability and enhancement of income from pisciculture. Most of the cultural water bodies i.e. ponds were under lease condition. SHG members practice composite fish culture/ poly culture and some of them were involved in integrating fish farming. Male SHGs increased their income in comparison to female & mixed SHGs. Family income increased per member after repayment of bank loan and other expenses. Empowerment of SHG women through training and other assistance have positive impact on the SHG members; increase in self-confidence, leadership qualities and enhanced income to improve their nutrition.