SOCIAL NETWORK OF FISHERS OPINION LEADERS OF LAKE JAISAMAND, RAJASTHAN

Fishers Opinion Leaders in Lake fisheries

Abstract

The study attempts to identify the social network of fishers and opinion leaders in the vicinity of a lake in the Western part of India This study was conducted under the qualitative and quantitative paradigm; data collection was carried out with semi-structured interviews with fishers and opinion leaders in the fisheries community of Jaisamand lake. The main findings show that the extension density for Jaisamand Lake was 1: 2542 (the ratio of fisheries officers and fishers) – a problematic situation to bring techno-organizational transformation in the lake. A low extension contact between the fishers and the fisheries officers was also found. The socio-economic characteristics of the fishers and opinion leaders were analyzed, revealing that most of the respondents belonged to the low annual income group. A significant difference was found in the socio-economic characteristics of fishers and opinion leaders. Annual family income, social participation, training attended and extension contact of fishers are significant factors influencing fishers’ contact with opinion leaders. Local fisher leaders mobilize community people to manage resources because capture fisheries are primarily practiced in common recourse. So to strengthen the extension fisher’s linkage more vividly, the concept of farmer’s friends, Matsya Mitra and farmers’ field schools should be promoted.