Socioeconomic Study of Prospective of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for Sustainable Development of Aquaculture in Indian Sundarbans

Abstract

AbstractA major marsh and brackish water ecosystem of West Bengal, the Sundarbans, was home to many species of fishes that were the main food source for the people living there. As part of this study, different tools were used in aquaculture extension including a questionnaire survey, participatory rural appraisal, key informant interviews, as well as focus group discussions. The major cultivable species of Sundarbans like mullet, shrimp, tilapia, mud-crabs, giant prawn, and Asian seabass with probiotic, prebiotic, and symbiotic were also assessed. A socioeconomic and technical survey of 40 trained and 40 traditional practitioners of aquaculture were conducted from May 2018 to April 2019. This study and appraisal are intended to the socioeconomic relationship of farmers using probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic in aquaculture at Indian Sundarbans. The fish farmers were enriched with much knowledge and information gained from various training, on probiotics. An average benefit-cost ratio of 1:1.89 for traditional fish farmers and 1:3.13 for probiotic users were found. It was helping the modern practitioners to earn more profit to suffice their family needs as well as they were now accomplishing more safety and security measures for their family, investing more on their aquaculture practices. The gross income of the farmers was dependent on basis of the uses of probiotics, conditions of the pond, engagement of family labor, and fisher family resource endowment. Association with recognized institutions, input support from various government agencies, and other nongovernmental organization might be some point of intervention of the farmers to enhance fish culture in the Indian Sundarbans region.KeywordsProbioticPrebioticAquacultureFreshwaterBrackish waterSundarbansSocioeconomic benefitsIndia