Economics of disposal pattern of cultured fish: A case study in Gomati District of Tripura

Tripura state is first largest producer of fish in North-Eastern states after Assam. The livelihood and income of Tripura's farmers very much depend on fish production. The production of different species of fish is a boon in terms of both employment and income generation to the fish farmers in Tripura. At present the total availability of fish (import and production) is estimated as 82.32 thousand MT, with the total production of fish from culture and capture being 58.66 thousand MT in the state during 2012–13. The study was carried out in Chok bazaar and local area of Gomati district in Tripura, being a major fish market and involved highest number of functionaries in Gomati district. The primary data were collected using pre-tested well structured schedule through interview method and telephone for the year 2013–14 from 3 wholesalers, 3 local traders, and 3 retailers in study area. Three functionaries were selected randomly at each stage of fish marketing and information on fish prices, marketing cost and marketing margin were collected from functionaries. Marketing efficiency was estimated as the ratio of price received by fisher to the total marketing cost and margins (Acharya's modified marketing efficiency). The study has analyzed the marketing channels, producer's share, marketing cost, marketing margin and marketing efficiency in Chok bazaar and locally area of Gomati district of Tripura. Marketing efficiency was found to be the highest in channel-III that ranked first among the four identified channels. The fisher's share in consumer's rupee varies across different marketing channels and it was more in channel-III (98.46%).