Institutional Development and Efficiency of Fishermen Cooperatives in Marine Fisheries: A Case Study from Kerala

Abstract

Fishermen co-operatives have played a significant
role in improving the livelihood of millions of
fishermen. The extended co-operative services and
efficiency of co-operatives over the years make the
co-operatives effective. This paper presents the
institutional development and efficiency of two
fishermen co-operative societies viz., Njarakkal
(Society I) and Manassery (Society II) in Ernakulam
district, Kerala. It was revealed that there were
spatial and temporal differences in institutional
development between two societies while delivering
co-operative services. From the results of Data
Envelopment Analysis (DEA), it was found that the
mean technical efficiencies estimated using Variable
Returns to Scale (VRS) were 96 and 87% in
Society I in and Society II respectively. The scale
efficiency revealed that the Society II is operating at
sub-optimal scale size than Society I. The amount
of loan disbursed and repayment, income from fish
marketing services were the factors responsible for
the efficiency of co-operatives.