Supply Chain Analysis of Farmed Exotic Carps in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

The study was conducted in the state of Jammu
and Kashmir where the major fish marketing
stakeholders like fish farmers, pre-harvesting
contractors, wholesalers, retailers and fish vendors
were interviewed. In Jammu and Kashmir the
culture of exotic carps like grass carp
(Ctenopharyngodon idella) (Steindachner, 1866), silver
carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) (Valenciennes,
1844) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
(Linnaeus, 1758) is carried out and the culture has
proved to be economical. The disposal pattern of
the exotic carp revealed that the overall local
consumption of the fish by the farmers in the state
was less around 3.79% only as it was a source of
livelihood, so farmers preferred to sell rather than
consuming themselves. The most significant effect
on the marketing costs of the locally cultured exotic
fishes was observed by the use of excess casual
labours and water charges. There were three major
Supply Chains (SC) prevailing in the state (SC I,
SC II and SC III) and amongst them the marketing
channel III was most efficient (17.82) with highest
producers share in consumer’s rupee (94.69) where
the farmers were directly selling the production to
the consumers. The state was not self-sufficient in
meeting the demands of the people so fishes
produced in other states were also marketed.