Context, present status and reforms of aquaculture extension service in India

Abstract

The aquaculture sector is growing rapidly in terms of production and is also contributing in equal measures to securing livelihoods and eradicating poverty in India. At the core of the development of this sector lies those grassroots-level farmers, entrepreneurs and the stakeholders playing various roles in the fish value chain. Aquaculture extension services play a crucial role in binding all the players in a single string for the smooth functioning of this growing sector through transmitting knowledge, skill, information and provision of advisory services. Technological development alone may not bring about desirable changes; what is needed is a vibrant extension services, a missing link that facilitate two-way communication between researchers and farmers. Several reforms have been initiated in a bid to bridge the gap between technology generation and its application. This article discusses the context, present status, its contributions and the initiatives/reforms implemented for strengthening and revitalising the aquaculture extension system.