Among the new e-Extension initiatives in the fisheries sector, the advisory services through mobile phone occupy an important place in disseminating information and knowledge to fisherfolk. This study was conducted in Akkarapettai, Samanthanpettai and Chinnangudi villages of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu where information dissemination through mobile phones is being actively practiced by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. A sample of 56 fisherfolk was drawn using simple random sampling procedure. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The study focused on two aspects namely, demographic characteristics of the respondents and the type of information disseminated and its preferences through mobile phone. The information disseminated were: daily weather and wave height forecast, potential fishing zones, GPS based navigation solutions, details of Government schemes in operation, Government subsidies, market/landing centre information, clips of the day and audio clips based on need assessment of the respondents. The constraints such as small size of the mobile screen, too many scrolls to read the full content, slow scrolling speed, small font size and time constraints were expressed. GPS technology integrated, waterresistant model, voice enabled messages, flat models instead of folding types, high capacity charge batteries and GPS software with novel features were preferred by the fisherfolk.

Fisher Friend Mobile Application – An Innovative and Promising ICT Tool in Fisheries e-Extension

ICTs are technologies that facilitate communication and the processing and transmission of information by electronic means. This definition encompasses the full range of ICTs from radio and television to telephones, computers and the internet.

PRA/RRA-Techniques

Like agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture sector has witnessed spurt of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) mediated extension efforts in recent years. Both the government as well as non-government organizations are piloting innovative ICT applications for aquaculture development. While some of these initiatives are concerned with e-trading and e-governance, most of them are engaged in transfer of technology. 'Reaching the unreached' with timely dissemination of aquaculture information has been the prime focus. With shrinking public sector extension the role of private sector has become more prominent and aquaculture extension is increasingly becoming pluralistic in nature. ICT mediated aquaculture extension is here to stay. It is argued that successful ICT applications are replicated in other areas covering fish farmers across the country and thereby bridging the ‘digital divide’.

Ict mediated aquaculture extension—need for replication

The fishery sector is increasingly recognised as income generation enterprises. Present Jharkhand fish production was reported 257 MT at 2022 which increases from previous year number 238 MT for 2021. A cross sectional study was conducted on the extension approach of extension functionaries and fish farmers. The District Fisheries Officers, Fisheries Extension Officers, Fisheries Supervisors and Matsya Mitras (Para extension workers) were kept in 1st category including representatives of selected Government and Non-Government agencies. The second category of respondents was 5 fish farmers from each selected village. The cross-sectional study of selected two districts consists of 4 blocks and 16 villages. Altogether, there were 74 extension functionaries and 80 fish farmer respondents. Thus, the total sample size was 154 respondents. 19 Matsya Mitras belongs to selected areas in two blocks of Saraikela while the remaining 13 from two blocks of Ranchi district respectively. Matsya Mitras are cadres who establish linkages between farmers, NGOs and Department of Fisheries. Due to Matsya Mitra’s intervention, total 80 new potential women groups were motivated to get engaged in the selected areas of both districts to take up the fisheries activities in community ponds or on shared basis in individual ponds which were kept unused for long and long years. Role of non-government agency (Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, JSLPS) with support of Department of Fisheries found to be very effective in imparting trainings and motivating the women group to get involve in male dominated activities for sustainable livelihood. Input supports such as fingerlings (@ 6000/ acre), feeds, water testing equipment’s, Matsya Mitras Kits along with capacity building of pond management aspects were provided to women folk during 2018-19 in Saraikela and Ranchi district respectively. In one-year ie 2020, the popularity of fish farming increases among women Producer Groups which helped them to get actively involved in fish production irrespective to various constraints came acrossed. 2% horizontal area expansion has been observed. The poor and resource poor families were linked with government schemes after getting imparted with 3- and 5-days residential training programmes at Shalimar, Ranchi. This ongoing extension approach by non-government agencies with support of Department of Fisheries and Matsya Mitras helped to trap the derelict water areas, increase nutritional security, employment generation, gender mainstreaming in fish farming for sustainable aquaculture livelihood. 

Extension approach for an effective fisheries extension services by government and non-government organizations in Jharkhand

Improved communication and information
access is directly related to social
and economic development. However,
the rural population still have difficulty in
accessing crucial information in forms
they can understand in order to make
timely decisions. There is a concern that
the gap between the information rich
and information poor is getting wider.
New information and communication
technologies are generating possibilities
to solve problems of rural poverty,
inequality and giving an opportunity to
bridge the gap between information-rich
and information-poor and to support
sustainable development in rural and
agricultural communities. However
remote rural communities still lack basic
communication infrastructure. The challenge
is not only to improve the accessibility
of communication technology to
the rural population but also to improve
the relevance of information to local
development. The article focuses on
innovations in technology dissemination
with particular focus on aquaculture.

New initiatives in fisheries extension

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New initiatives in fisheries extension