Project title: Exploring Market Opportunities for Fisheries Sector in India

Project leader: B. Ganesh Kumar

Project team: K. K. Datta and P. Shinoj and Partners from CIBA, CIFA, CIFRI, CIFE, Co-F-

                         Mangalore, FCRI-Thoothukudi and CFSc-Nellore

Background:

About 15 per cent of the total fish production of the country (6.87 MT during 2006-07) is exported and the rest is being marketed domestically. The domestic fish marketing system in India is inefficient and is mainly carried out by private traders with a large number of intermediaries, thereby reducing the fisherman’s share in consumer’s rupee. The major constraint faced by Indian fish farmers in fish marketing are the lack of bargaining power and market information and barriers to entry in the market.

Objectives:

1.    Project demand for and supply of fish and fish products in India.

2.    Diagnose existing marketing structures, and assess their performance in marine and inland sectors.

3.    Undertake successful case studies on innovative marketing arrangements in fisheries sector to assess their feasibility and benefits to fisher folks.

4.    Assess the feasibility and sustainability of adapting innovative marketing models from dairy and poultry sectors and conceptualize a model terminal market / cold chain for fisheries sector through PPP mechanism

5.    Analyze export opportunities and its implications on prices of fish and fish products.

Study area:

All the coastal states of India and Delhi

Methodology:

1.    Demand-Supply analysis

2.    Structure -Conduct-Performance approach using primary survey of market 

3.    Case studies of innovative markets

4.    Price integration analysis for domestic markets

5.    Gravity analysis for export prospects

Key findings:

1.    Marketing costs of lower end functionaries were more than that of upper end functionaries in fish marketing.

2.    Kolkata and Mumbai are bigger markets than Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.

3.    Producer’s share of consumer rupee ranges from 35 to 65%

4.  Andhra Pradesh transports maximum fishes out of the state than any other states

5. There is no free entry or exit for any newcomers at any stage of fish marketing across country, as it is controlled by many social and political factors.

Funding Agency: National Fish Development Board