A Logit Analysis of the Factors Affecting Cage Fish Farming Adoption Decisions in the Southwest Coast of India

Aims: Cage fish farming is an emerging aquaculture technology in India. The successful cage farming demonstrations is the open sea and coastal waters by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) led to the popularization of the technology in different maritime states of the country. The aim of the study was to analyse the factors contributing the adoption decisions of cage fish farming in Kerala, Southwest coast of India

Study Design: The data were collected from 100 respondents consisting of 50 each from adopters and non-adopters of cage fish farming in Ernakulam district of Kerala for analyzing the factors driving the adoption decisions.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Ernakulam district in the Southwest coast of India during October to December, 2019

Methodology: Factors contributing the adoption decisions of cage fish farming was analyzed using logistic regression model

Results: The results of the analysis revealed that access to institutional credit, education of the farmers, off farm income and training received were the key drivers of technology adoption decisions of fish farmers in Kerala. The odds favouring education increased by 5.90 times for the respondents. The access to institutional credit increased the odds of adoption of cage farming by 3.945 times. The availability of off farm income increased the odds of adopting cage farming technology by 3.257 times.

Conclusion: Cage fish farming being an emerging aquaculture technology, the results throw light on the necessity of adequate provisions for credit support and capacity development programmes by the institutional agencies for accelerating the technology adoption process. Since the education of the farmers and trainings were significant factors on adoption decisions, the technology could be effectively utilized and linked with employment generation schemes for the educated youth for augmenting fish production and livelihoods.