Study of Fish Markets and their Pattern of Raipur City

Abstract

The state of Chhattisgarh is endowed with rich and varied inland fisheries resources, which include ponds, reservoirs and rivers. Chhattisgarh, the 26th State of India, was carved out of Chhattisgarh on November 1, 2000. Located in central India it covers an area of 135,133 sq km. Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh is bordered by Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the south, Orissa in the east and Chhattisgarh in the west. Fishermen of this area are mostly involved various technologies in fisheries over a period of time by trial and error, continuous observations, experiences and evaluation to use the traditional practices in this field. The fishermen from rural area may an important role in establishing smoked fish and demand of dried prawn in market and also holding strong traditional marketing system for wet and dried prawn and do sell it round the year. The specific objectives of this study were to the availability, consumption and landing pattern of fishes, to find the available setting place and using their fish dressing equipments, carrier bags reasons for adopting traditional practices by fish traders, fishermen & fisherwomen in local fish market of Raipur town. The list of fish whole seller/traders, fish seller, fishermen & fisherwomen were prepared as respondents with the help of equal interval method of random sampling. The finding reveal that there is a good market, demand and price for almost all the Indian major carps, verities of indigenous local & catfishes. But, the supply is less as per demand and also poor due to environment of this local fish market. The major constraint of fish market under ownership of Municipal Corporation and also established at one place and no cement floor, storage facilities (Ice plant/ unit) nearly, high transportation charges, non-availability of skilled labor, and with non-availability of electric current regularly for freezing of fish were the important difficulties encountered by fish seller in market of Raipur town. The development of this local fish market are expected to significantly contribute in reducing post harvest losses, enhance revenue and also improve the hygienic environmental effect and sanitary conditions in fish markets.