Role of availability of critical aquaculture inputs and community-managed markets on community-based floodplain wetland management

Abstract

India has extensive wetlands of 2.02 lakh ha. These are basically low-lying floodplain areas. Assam has endowed huge floodplain wetlands and are locally called as Beel. These are one of the most important fishery resources of India providing livelihood to thousands of poor people. The average existing fish production of Assam Beel is only 173 kg/ha/year against its production potential of 1000-1500 kg/ ha/year. A study was conducted in three Beels of the Assam state to see the role of two situational independent variables namely availability of critical aquaculture inputs (X1) and community-managed markets (X2) on dependent variable i.e. knowledge levels of Beel users for community-based Beel fisheries management (Y). The study revealed that community-managed markets was significantly and positively associated (P<0.01) with knowledge levels of Beel users on community-based Beel fisheries management. Also, between these two variables, community managed market (X2) was found to be most significantly contributing variable (‘t’-value – 2.91**) on knowledge levels of Beel users for community-based Beel fisheries management (Y).