ABSTRACT

The study titled “Livelihood systems and empowerment status of fisherwomen in post-harvest activities in East and West coast of India- A comparative study” was conducted in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh during 2023-24. A total of 240 fisherwomen, with 120 from each state, were selected through random sampling method. Based on needs of fisherwomen as a intervention training programmes were organised for 30 fisherwomen in both districts. Data was collected through personal interviews and analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, t-tests, and path analysis. Results revealed that in Uttara Kannada, great majority (95.00%) of fisherwomen depended solely on fisheries for their livelihood, whereas in Bapatla less than half (40.83%) of the fisherwomen involved in fisheries with wage labour and 15.83 per cent relied only on fisheries. In terms of livelihood status, 40.83 per cent of fisherwomen in Uttara Kannada had a medium level, while 41.60 per cent in Bapatla had a high level of livelihood status. There was a significant difference between the livelihood status of the two districts at the 1.00 per cent probability level (4.45**). Regarding empowerment status, 61.67 per cent of fisherwomen in Uttara Kannada had a low level of empowerment status, whereas 48.33 per cent in Bapatla had a medium level of empowerment status. The difference in empowerment status between the districts was also significant at the 1.00 per cent probability level (7.418**). The study also examined factors influencing livelihood and empowerment. In Uttara Kannada, education, family type, family occupation, Annual family income, social/mass media usage, extension participation, organizational participation, and contact with fishery officials were highly significant, accounted 58.50 per cent of the variance in livelihood status. In Bapatla, similar factors accounted for 85.70 per cent of the variance. Direct and indirect effects showed that education, organizational participation, and extension contacts were significant contributors in both regions. Empowerment was influenced by aspiration levels, education, and social/mass media usage, accounting for 32.50 per cent and 38.10 per cent of the variance in Uttara Kannada and Bapatla districts respectively. There was a great improvement in fisherwomen knowledge level after intervention i.e., training programme on post-harvest activities of marine fisheries. In Uttara Kannada, the mean knowledge score increased from 7.23 to 19.33 and in Bapatla, from 8.27 to 19.97. There was a notable shift from low to high knowledge levels among the respondents in both districts. Constraints analysis revealed high debt as the primary general constraint, followed by poor living conditions and seasonal employment issues. Marketing constraints included price uncertainty and transportation challenges. Fisherwomen in both states suggested to establish storage structures and transportation facilities. The study recommends it is important to create more awareness about various extension activities by the development departments, NGOs, FPOs and extension institutes.