Abstract Volume:4 Issue-5 Year-2016 Original Research Articles
Online ISSN : 2347 - 3215 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcret@gmail.com |
2Former Divisional Head, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata- 700120, West Bengal, India
Fish curing is an important and age old method of fish preservation in India and major part of marine landings is still converted into cure products mostly dry fish. Dried fish continues to enjoy a steady market West Bengal, India, particularly among the low income group on account of its low cost of production, extended shelf life at ambient temperature, convenience of packaging and transport. The dry fish curers are, by and large, economically backward and socially at lower strata of the Society, despite of their unstained efforts, dexterity and skill; their earnings on the whole are at still at lower level when compared with other industrial and professional workers. An investigation was carried out to unravel the socio-economic status of the fish curers involved in the dry fish industry of the coastal belts of West Bengal, India. Generally for undertaking fish drying activity, the fish curers procure raw materials varying between 10,000 and 70,000 kg/annum. The end product (dry fish) turns approximately to 1/3 to 1/4 from the raw material (fresh fish). The study indicates that sizeable active fish curers belong to the age group of 35-55 years. The curers of the sample are mostly Jalia Kaibarttas by caste which belongs to Scheduled Cast (SC) community. It reveals that the primary occupation of most of the fish curers is fish preservation. During drying season, fish curers earn between INR 6000 to 8000 per month on an average. On account of their poverty and social status, they are forced to depend on middlemen. In order to overcome this, however, communities must be empowered to make decisions locally and to take actions that meet local opportunities and problems.
How to cite this article:
Chanchal Samanta, Utpal Bhaumik and Bidhan Chandra Patra. 2016. Socio-Economic Status of the Fish Curers of the Dry Fish Industry of the Coastal Areas of West Bengal, India.Int.J.Curr.Res.Aca.Rev. 4(5): 84-100doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcrar.2016.405.009
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