Adoption of Quality Management Practices in Seafood Processing Sector in Cochin Region

Abstract

The study was conducted in 34 fish processing units in Ernakulam and Alleppey districts of Kerala. Data were collected on the general profile of the seafood processing units, availability of infrastructural facilities and managerial role performance of fish processors. The results revealed that 76.47% of the units were EU approved and 23.53% were Non-EU units. The average quantity handled per day was 11.12 t while the production capacity was 21.51 t day-1. For the availability of infrastructural facilities in the processing units, the adequacy index was more than 90. The overall role performance index of the fish processors was found to be 74.46. The adoption of quality management practices was determined in terms of good hygienic practices (Mean: 99.51%), good manufacturing practices (Mean: 97.65%), standard sanitation operation procedures (Mean: 99.08%) and good laboratory practices (Mean: 96.33%). The significant ‘F’ value in the multiple regression analysis revealed the overall significance of influence of 14 independent variables when taken together in explaining the extent of adoption of good hygienic practices by the fish processing units. Of the fourteen variables, only type of approval and adequacy of infrastructural availability in the processing units positively contributed towards the extent of adoption of quality management practices. The R2 value indicated that the 14 variables selected together explained 67.70% of variation in the adoption level. The major constraints expressed by the processors were also listed out.