Adoption Level of Scientific Fish Farming Management Practices among Fish Farmers of Barnala and Sangrur Districts of Punjab, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the year 2024-25 to evaluate the status and adoption of fish culture management practices being followed by the fish farmers in the Barnala and Sangrur districts of Punjab, India. The study was carried out in the districts through a structured questionnaire in bilingual mode (English and Punjabi) to collect information about fish farming practices that the fish farmers have adopted. The questionnaire was further converted into a Google form in the local language, Punjabi, which was circulated through WhatsApp numbers and groups. The required information was also gathered through farm visits and in gatherings like training programs, awareness camps, fish farmers meeting etc. Out of the 40 responses that were gathered, the majority of fish farmers (75 %) belong to the general group, and 40 per cent of the respondents have been in the fish farming business for 5-10 years. The study revealed that 80 per cent of the fish farmers have taken training related to fish farming before and after the start of fish farm to gain and update their knowledge about scientific fish farming. It was also observed that majority of fish farmers were doing aquaculture in private ponds (50 %) followed by 32.5 per cent in village ponds and 17.5 per cent in both private and village ponds. The present study concludes that aquaculture is laboured extensive and financially more beneficial than the traditional cropping system but the adoption behaviour revealed that the fish farmers in both the districts have adopted moderate level of farming practices rather than following the scientific approach towards semi-intensive or intensive aquaculture. Trainings or awareness camps specially focussed on scientific methods of pond management in terms of water quality, feeding and disease control should be conducted to make fish farmers aware about their lacking points and better approach for higher production and profit.