Managing Common Pool Resources for Poverty Reduction in Tribal Areas of Eastern India Common Pool Resources.pdf · 2014. 6. 12. · Managing Common Pool Resources for Poverty Reduction

INTRODUCTION

Poverty continues to be one of the majorchallenges of time. Strategies framed by thegovernment could not succeed to the extent thatwas expected. Review of literature brings outclearly that there is a need for multi-prongedstrategy to tackle the multi-dimensional natureof poverty, as poverty calculus changes acrossregions and time notwithstanding social groups.Earlier attempts towards poverty alleviation (thetrickle-down effect, the direct action programssuch as IRDP, NREGP etc., of 1980’s) and thoseof today’s (NREGA and the like) focused mainlyon a single solution expected to be fitting all.The effectiveness and necessity of micro levelstrategies is entirely missing from the policy net.Hence, there is a need to discover such criticalareas to tackle the challenges for reducingpoverty.

It is a historically established that poor dependupon common property resources for theirlivelihood. One such micro-initiative can be theefficient use of common property resources. CPRsgenerally consist of grazing lands, commonponds, common forests providing fuel woods etc.Considering the widespread prevalence ofpoverty levels in rural and tribal regions and asignificant proportion (15 percent of total land)of area under the CPRs, the use of CPRs canreally make some difference in the lives of ruralpoor.

It is argued here that there is a nexus betweenpoverty and CPRs (Table 1) and the poor, beinga deprived section. They depend heavily on thenatural resources. Usually, natural resources areguarded either by government laws or by thecommunity norms. As a result, poor find it difficultto use even these natural resources.

Managing Common Pool Resources for Poverty Reduction in TribalAreas of Eastern India

With Special Reference to Small Scale Culture Fisheries and Non-Timber ForestProducts

R.S.Deshpande, D.K.Marothia, Khalil Shah

Table 1: The nexus between CPRs and Poverty(year 1998)

Note: 1) States having more than 10% of area under

CPRs to the total geographical area are

considered for high category of CPRs

Classification and below as low category.

2) States having more than 30% of rural and

Schedule Tribe population below poverty line

are considered for high category of poverty

Classification and below as low category.

Source: Based on Planning commission and NSSO

1998.

The relationship between livelihood security andthe poverty dynamics has also been a common themein the literature. Not many studies have highlightedthe nexus between poverty and use of CommonProperty Resources (CPRs). There are a few importantstudies on management of CPRs as well as on povertyreduction separately, but rarely do they connect attheoretical and empirical level. It is argued thatefficient use of CPRs at grass-root level play animportant role in generating and sustaining the sourceof livelihood for the rural poor and also points out

CPRs andPoverty Class

CPRs

High

Low

Rural Poverty Rural Schedule

Tribe Poverty

High Low High Low

ORI, RAJ, ORI GUJ

M.P., GUJ, M.P. RAJ.

MEGA, TN, TN,

MIZO, MHA MEGA,

UP, MIZO,

UP

BIH, KAR, WB, KAR,ASS, AP, BIH, AP,MANI, HP, ARUNA, PUN,NAG, PUN ASS, HP.SIKK, MANI,TRI, NAGA,WB, SIKK,ARUNA TRI,

MAH

that a continuous decline of the CPRs due to lack ofproper institutional mechanism in place to sustainthem have caused increased deprivation to the poor.The study was conducted to analyse the missing linkbetween poverty and CPRs from the policy perspective,a study was initiated at the behest of FAO and Ministryof Agriculture, Government of India. The focus ofthe study was to get at the role and process of CPR inpoverty alleviation, map the contours of difficulties inthis process and arrive at the policy leads needed.

The states chosen for the ground levelunderstanding are Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Thesetwo states also represent the regions with high densityof poor as well as high dependence on commonproperty resources (Table 1). While in Chhattisgarhthe poor depend on Non-Timber Forest products, thesizeable poor in Orissa look for aquaculture as themain support for their livelihood.

The main objectives of the study were to analyzethe role of non-timber forest products in povertyalleviation in Chhattisgarh; to examine the system ofgovernance, institutional framework and programsfor community based management practices in non-timber forest products of Chhattisgarh; and toexamine the leasing policy for common rural waterbodies, its positive/negative impact in terms of conflictamong different stakeholders in Orissa.

NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTSNational Forest Policy-1988 provided a national

perspective on forest management. However,considering the fact that the national canvass is toolarge and with the creation of the new State ofChhattisgarh on 1st November 2000, it becameimperative to review the situation. The StateGovernment declared and adopted a State ForestPolicy Resolution in November 2001. Chhattisgarh isone of the pioneering States in the country to frameits own forest policy. The important objectives of theState Forest Policy are: (a) unlocking of the vast arrayof forest resources on sustainable basis for enhancedwell-being of local people by converting these openaccess resources (OAR) into community controlled,prioritized, protected and managed resources, and(b) attending to the derivation of direct economicbenefit from the forests of the State shall besubordinated to the requirements of the environmentalstability and maintenance of ecological balance inthe State.

To translate the policy into action, the Govt. ofChhattisgarh has passed a Resolution in October2001 on JFM having a few important features, “(i)every family of the JFM committees will be entitled toavail forest produces subject to their availability; (ii)all the forest committees shall be eligible to get 100%of the forest produces obtained from time to time,from mechanical thinning & cleaning of rehabilitatedarea and cleaning of bamboo clumps in degradedforests as per the prescriptions of micro-plan/ workingplan, on payment of expenditure incurred onharvesting, (iii) forest produces equivalent to 15%value of the amount calculated by (of timber/bamboo)deducting the expenditure (of timber/bamboo)incurred on harvesting from the total value of forestproduce or cash equivalent to that shall be given toF.P.C, (iv) forest produces equivalent to 30% value,calculated by deducting the expenditure incurred onharvesting (of timber/bamboo) from the total valueof timber/bamboo obtained on final felling inplantation/rehabilitation of degraded forests, asequivalent to that value, shall be given to village forestcommittee(VFC)”. These were expected to help theforest dependents largely in their livelihood.

Network of people’s protected area (PPAs) as poorpeople’s pool of assets for sustainable livelihoodsecurity and bio-cultural diversity conservation hasbeen established in the State of Chhattisgarh withspecial emphasis to utilize the traditional ecologicalknowledge of the people, capacity building of thestakeholders and up-gradation of local technologywith appropriate information technology. While underthe Community FP the organizational, administrativeand functional structures of Chhattisgarh State MinorForest Produce (trading &development) Co-operativeFederation (CSMFPFED) remain unchanged forcollection, processing and marketing of nationalizedNTFPs, the processing storage and marketingoperations for tendu leaves are now being carriedout by the purchaser appointed by SDF for institutionalmechanism structures designed for private – public –community based local resource management body-e.g. primary minor forest produce. Under thisarrangement, the members of the primary NTFPssocieties only harvest the green leaves and thepurchaser carries out remaining operations. Thesociety members get their wages from the PMFPCS.

The State has now established a uniquedistribution mechanism through a network of NTFPsMarts with well-designed chain of Sanjeevini shops

supported by SHGs and mainpower to promote marketing.There are two gray areas in theCPF. First, there is hardly anypolicy intervention included inthe CFP for managingprotected areas and second,wildlife sanctuaries have to bemanaged with theparticipation of localcommunities and coexistenceof wildlife and human

population. The protocols for the certification ofhoney, aonla, lac and tamarind are being developedin accordance with NPOP standards. ChhattisgarhCertification Society (CGCERT) is providing necessaryguidance to the micro-entrepreneurs for developingtheir products and getting their products certified.

SMALL SCALE CULTURE FISHERIESAquaculture on common property water bodies

is one of the important survival strategies of poor inOrissa. The State Government has introduced TheState Reservoir Fishery Policy, Orissa, with the primaryobjective of creating employment opportunitiesthrough introduction of scientific pisciculture.Economic rehabilitation of the displaced andproviding livelihood to the dependent poor are thehighlights of the policy. The policy makers also showconcern about the current leasing policies andextension of leasing period for sustainability. It is alsosuggested that the community shall the centre of suchdevelopment process, and that must ensuredemocratic participation of community in planningand decision-making process.

This study located urgent needs to synthesize thetraditional ecological knowledge with thecontemporary knowledge to transform rainfed areas.Reconciling the system of indigenous ecologicalknowledge with modern scientific orientation isneeded to design appropriate strategies fordevelopment of rainfed areas. An integrated view mustbe taken to redesign the livelihood alternatives andto minimize the distress migration. A comprehensiveNational CPRs Management Policy needs to bedesigned involving the individual experts working invarious institutions and organizations includingNGOs.

Multiuse Common Water (MCW) bodies constitutean important component of community assets inOrissa and significantly contribute towards thelivelihood of the poor. The area and productivity ofthese MCWs is declining, but still these constitute themain source. MCW Common pool ponds/tanks arebeing administered and controlled under differentinstitutional hierarchy and property rights regimes.The issue related to management of these tanks andponds is complex due to varied characteristics (scale,size, location, coverage, and output). Therefore,multiple agencies are involved in governing theresources and that hinders the flexibility of theresources to reach their full potential.

To promote culture fisheries based livelihoodactivities for reducing poverty, the policy makers haveto revisit the traditional institutional arrangements ofmanaging these community assets in different partsof the State. The existing institutional arrangementsand policies are inadequate to address the issues ofsustainable development of multiuse common waterbodies in relation to efficient production andminimizing social and economic inequity. Public-private-community-partnership (PPCP) governancestructure can be promoted to enhance capacity ofcommunity in fish production with workableinstitutional arrangements supported by effectiveauthority system.

There are several types of institutionalarrangements in the state that includes (a) Personalponds, (b) Individuals taking other ponds on lease,(c) Panchayat ponds, (d) Village ponds leased out toindividuals sharing the profit, (e) Panchayat pondsgiven to individual, (f) SHG taking village or individualponds or Village ponds sharing with SHG, (g) thereservoir given to Co-operatives, However, no formalleasing policy exists in Orissa. Panchayat ponds havesome kind of leasing arrangements. Most of thevillagers have consensus over that the village pondwill not be given on lease to any outsider from thevillage, though current return is very low from theseponds.

Orissa’s inland culture fishery has a complexsystem. The total production is not much, as the sizeof the ponds is small usually between 0.2 to 0.4 ha.The fish farmers generally sell the produce at the localmarkets. Poisoning and poaching are two bigproblems. Substantial amounts of money are spentFisheries are acquiring the character of an economicenterprise run by the people who have better politicalconnection. Traditional fish farmers are now beingmarginalised from their trade and are doing nettingand other related labour work. They weave and sellfishing net etc.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS1. The ownership rights of non-nationalized NTFPs

have been assigned to the Panchayat RajInstitutions (village level institutions) inconsonance with some arrangements (a)harvesting of minor forest produce will be on non-destructive basis (b) the members of the gram

sabhas will be free to collect minor forest producefor their own consumption, and (c) the manner,frequency and intensity of minor forest producecollection for any use other than bona-fidedomestic use by the members of the GramSabhas will be in accordance with the prescriptionof a management plan prepared by ZillaPanchayat. It will be essential to prepare and putthese plans in public domain.

2. The role of JFMCs in promoting the economicdevelopment of the people living in the vicinityof the forests should have a holistic approach.Therefore, it is high time for JFMCs and FDAs todesign financial planning for utilizing theavailable fund for value addition activitiesassociated with NTFPs and medicinal and herbalplants. Such plans need to be transparent andavailable to stakeholders.

3. The Federation need to make all possible effortsto implement its initiatives in theseunderprivileged and socially excluded areas.There are a few grey areas in CFP, which need tobe addressed. Policy related to protected areasand wildlife sanctuaries need to be revisitedkeeping in view the coexistence of humanpopulation and wildlife and biodiversityresources.

4. Institutional arrangements, in case of NTFPsmanagement, need to be redefined keeping inview property rights structures aimed at reducingpoverty. This transition of institutionalarrangements became a major push factor intransforming the life of poor tribals.

5. Institutions should not only govern the processof production (harvesting) but also need toenhance technology and organize marketingboth under NTFPs and CPR fisheries.

6. Panchayati Raj institutions in India are takingshape in most of the states and decentralizeddevelopment planning has become a key wordin the administration. It will be essential toinstitutionalize the management and use of CPRsthrough this institutional structure.

7. In view of the large number of pisciculture tanksin some States, creating an enabling environmentfree of legal hurdles and with clear legalownership titles is essential. This is needed fortanks under the possession of the GPs.Pisciculture has proved to be a veritable sourceof income for the GPs. Moreover, it is necessaryto see that the existing State policies take intoaccount the views of stakeholders to avoid lapsesin policy design. This particularly is important inconservation and sustainable development of

existing CPRs in the State. Conservation ofresources should be done through promotingresponsible fishing behavior and this requireseducation and trainings to fishermen. Awarenessbuilding among all the stakeholders regardingconservation of fish should become priority inCPR management policies and the fishingcommunity should be made aware of the prosand cons of the management and neglect ofCPRs.

8. To increase the contribution of small-scalefisheries and NTFPs, which in turn results inpoverty reduction, locational specific technical,institutional and policy arrangements are neededthat will ensure sustainability of multiuse commonwater bodies and forest resource base. To achievethis, policy makers must learn from the goodgovernance models.

CONCLUSIONSThe study endeavoured to develop pro-poor policiesbased on the institutional structure of CPRs andbrought fourth an in-depth understanding of the policyissues. There is large number of lacunae featuring inthe process of institutionalization in use of CPRs andthose have direct bearing on livelihood. It was notedthat the traditional institutions have faded and themarket forces are also betraying the poor due toimperfections. There are infrastructural bottleneckstoo. All these indicate a fresh look at policy domainfor common property resources, environment andpoverty. This study offers institutional solutions in orderto get the best out of the nexus between commonproperty resources and the livelihood of the poor. Itis true that traditional institutions have beenweathering out mainly due to the market forces butthen one can utilize the market forces themselves asnew avenues to create a new institutional structure.The use of CPRs is not determined by their mereavailability, but mainly by their accessibility.The study provides policy leads in a five dimensionalinterconnected pentagon. First, the presentinstitutional structure has to be strengthened byallowing the power to decide lease rate in the handsof the village stakeholders. Such institutions could bedesigned on the lines of SHGs with tag on credit.Second, the responsibility of maintaining the CPRsshall rest with the users. Third, the users or lesseemust pay towards maintenance and the account shallbe maintained by this group. Fourth, the group needto prepare a plan for the use of CPR and it should bepublically displayed. Finally, the group formed shouldbe integrated with PRIs, but shall functionindependently.

INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGEDr V K R V Rao Road, Nagarabhavi, Bangalore–560072

Phone : 23215468, 23215519, 23215592 Fax : +91-80–23217008Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.isec.ac.in

NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS

While the Chhattisgarh State Forest Policy hasretained the essentials of forest managementlisted out in the National Forest Policy – 1988 ofGovernment of India, it has prioritized theattributes of forest management in view of Statesemphasis. The livelihood of tribal and otherdisadvantageous population is at the center stageof forest management planning. However, theessentials of forest management in the State ofChhattisgarh may include -

a) Existing forests and forestlands should beprotected and their productivity be increased.It is necessary to promote efficient methodsof harvest of non-timber forest products andutilization to maximize economic returns withthe help of stakeholders.

b) Targeting of broad range of goods andservices in terms of physical, material,human, social, cultural and environmentalassets in conjunction with appropriateentitlement regime. People’s Protected Area(PPA) envisions a proactive and people’sfriendly framework to ensure long-termprotection and maintenance of biologicaldiversity and providing at the same time asustainable flow of natural products andservices to meet the local community needs.Therefore, a network of PPAs should beestablished as poor people’s pool of assets

Managing Common Pool Resources for Poverty Reductionin Tribal Areas of Eastern India

With Special Reference to Small Scale Culture Fisheries andNon-Timber Forest Products

R.S.Deshpande, D.K.Marothia, Khalil Shah

for strengthening the livelihood security offorest dwellers.

c) Provision of sufficient fodder, fuel and smalltimber to local people, especially in areasadjoining forests, is necessary to preventfurther depletion of forests beyond theirsustainable capacity. To reduce the pressureon forests due to increasing demand for fuelwood, its substitution by alternative sourcesof energy should be promoted. The existingprogramme be intensified.

d) Minor Forest Produce (MFP) includingmedicinal plants provides sustenance to thetribal population and to other communitiesresiding in and around the forests. Theproductivity of such produce should beenhanced along with improving non-destructive harvesting methods. Incomegenerations along with employment are thekey points. Product-wise harvesters groupscould be formed to encourage this sector.Efforts should be made, as far as possible,to promote processing and value additionof the same, at the local level

e) Supply of timber and poles to urban centersfrom non-forest sources is necessary toreduce pressure on natural forests. Therefore,the State government should encourageagro-forestry, forestry and on- farmcultivation of timber trees.

AC

TIO

N P

LA

N

INTRODUCTIONIt is undisputable that the livelihood of poor is largely dependent on Common Property Resources(CPRs). Interestingly, the density of poor is also high in the regions with larger volume of CPRs. Wehave chosen two critical regions from the high density poverty & CPRs regions of the country. Non-timber forest products and public domain water bodies are two types of CPRs that support the poorof these regions. Our research points out to a few critical policies as action points emanating out

of research and the stakeholders meetings including Field Group Discussions (FGDs).

f) Establishment of appropriate institutionsincluding policy and legislative measures toprotect the rich bio –cultural heritage of theState in view of increasing threats of biopiracy infringement of IPR (IntellectualProperty Rights)from within and outside theState.

g) Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board(CSMPB) has started functioning andcurrently in the process of developing plantsfor sustainable development conservationand utilization of potential medicinal plantswith the active participation of localcommunities and traditional vaidyas. CSMPBmay provide market and price support fornon-nationalized NTFPs trade. ChhattisgarhMinor Forest Produce Co-operativeFederation (CGMFPCF) has establishedNTFPs Marts in the six Forest Divisions. SuchMarts should be further extended to districtunion level. These Marts could purchase andsell raw herbs and herbal products broughtby Primary Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Societies (PMFPCSs), FCs, SHGsand micro enterprises.

h) Chhattisgarh Certification Society (CGCERT)is providing necessary guidance to the micro-entrepreneurs for developing certification of

their products. This could be linked to themarts and the other institutional structure.

i) The other non-nationalized medicinal andnon-medicinal NTFPs (nearly 72) collected,marketed and processed are still traded inthe unorganized sector, dominated by tradersand traditional middlemen. The extension ofmarketing network designed by theCGMFPCF in the remote villages, thedisposal pattern and prices spread may bebeneficial to the poor gatherers. This leadneeds to be incorporated.

j) The collectors are not aware of the formationof SHGs, temporary storage and processingcentre facilities and network of Marts andSanjeevinies retail shops for trading herbalproducts. Only a few of the collectors havebeen beneficiaries of the state incentives. Thecollectors do not know about the existenceand functioning of processing units.Organisation of awareness camps in theremote areas will help in getting the poorcollectors of NTFPs to harness the benefits.

k) A massive awarenessprogramme has to be designedby CGMFPCF regarding valueaddition, financial incentivesavailable for formation ofSHGs and empowerment of theNTFPs collectors. The existinglinks among the VFCs, PMFPCSs, and SHGshave to be strengthened to transfer thebenefit of the Federation NTFPsmanagement.

l) The State may also think to establish anumbrella organization (preferably jointly withForest Policy Institute with research, extensionand policy wings) to address the domesticand international contemporary issues in theforestry and interrelated sectors.

m) Public-private-community-partnership (PPCP)governance structure can be promoted toenhance capacity of community in fishproduction with workable institutionalarrangements supported with effectiveauthority system. Recent initiatives ofMarketing Federation to establish martslinked with specialised shops network, micro-enterprises, organic certifications andinvolvement of SHGs have transformed theNTFPs trade in favour of the poor tribal to alarge extent. Such initiative hopefully lifts thepoor tribals above the poverty line.

Action Plan - Managing Common Poll Resources for Poverty Reduction in Tribal Areas of Eastern India

SMALL SCALE CULTURE FISHERIES

Orissa State is endowed with brackish waterarea of 4.18 lakh ha. and fresh water area of6.70 lakh ha., consisting of tanks/ponds,reservoirs, lakes/swamps/bheels and rivers/canals. A large workforce in Orissa depends onfish production as part of their only livelihoodstrategy. Most of the labour forces dependenton fishery sector are migrants from otherneighbouring States. The poor socio-economiccondition of majority of fisher folk has notchanged though fish production and fish exportshave increased over the years.

a. The fishing rights (FR) of all the reservoirs ofless than 40 ha are presently vested with thegram panchayat while more than 40 hawater bodies are being handled by theFisheries and Animal Husbandry Department(FARD). The transfer of FR to FARD/GP ofnew reservoirs has been automatic afterimpoundment. The FARD takes steps forensuring stocking in order to enhance fishproduction. The conditions of such transferneed revisit to increase efficiency.

b. The Water Resources Department andFisheries and ARD shall jointly prepare”Reservoir Development Plan” in respect ofeach reservoir for fisheries development. Inthis matter the services of National ResearchInstitute and other allied institutions couldbe availed.

c. Industrial effluents/sewerage discharge intothe reservoir without proper treatment shallnot be permitted. No exotic fish shall beintroduced in the reservoir without priorpermission of the Fisheries & ARDDepartment with a view to preserving genetic

purity and germplasem of the indigenousstrain.

d. Need based evaluation may be conductedat an interval of five years by an independentagency of national repute on the impact ofthe policy on Reservoir Development.

e. Fresh Water Aquaculture has variouscomponents supported by the (FFDAs). Theseare construction of new ponds, renovation/reclamation of ponds/tanks, cost of inputs,integrated fish farming, aerators/pumps,fresh water fish seed hatchery, fish feed units,establishment of fresh water prawn seedhatchery; setting up of integrated unitsincluding hatchery for ornamental fishes,training to fish farmers, establishment oflaboratories at State level to improve waterquality and fish health investigations,provision of soil and water testing kits to eachFFDA, and purchase of vehicle, etc.

f. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)commenced in 2007-08 as a flagshipprogramme for the development ofagriculture and allied activities, which canbe used effectively for the fisheriesdevelopment. The programme is animportant window of opportunity to developand strengthen the fisheries sector.

g. At present, the fishing operation in the minorirrigation tanks is being administered byPrimary Fishermen Cooperative Society(PFCS)/SHGs/ individuals. The project willintervene at those tanks where operations areundertaken by Fishery Groups (FGs) primarilyunder aegis of PFCS. This would also includeexisting PFCS/SHGs. Wherever, FGs do notexist within the tank system the project wouldsupport the formation of a FG prior to anyfield operation. The prerequisites of theproject are as follows.

Action Plan - Managing Common Poll Resources for Poverty Reduction in Tribal Areas of Eastern India

h. There has been greater emphasis on fishproduction adopting scientific procedures forcreating employment opportunities and onprivate participation for augmenting fishproduction and creating market potential inthe State (The State Reservoir Fishery Policy,Orissa). In this context, the declining shareof plan expenditure in Fisheries and AnimalResource Development Sector is an area ofconcern and that needs attention.

i. The scientists view that the major issues forlow productivity of multi-use common waterbodies are related to irregular andinadequate stocking of quality fish seedsunder proper management practices, lackof control on biomass due to inflow of excesswater from catchments and outflow throughspillway, and lack of logistics support forsupply of quality fish seed at pond/tank sites.These issues can be dealt with demonstrationon stocking along with feed supplementation,training and exposure visits on post stockingmanagement and harvesting techniques,construction of sluice gate of the tanks andclearance of stumps in the water bodies.Availability of advanced fingerlings (150 gm)needs to be ensured. This is a critical gapfor increasing production in the sector.

j. The small scale fisheries sector needs to belinked with poverty reduction goal effectively.Despite a large number of policies haverecently been designed by the StateGovernment, institutional arrangementappears to be weak as it heavily supported

Action Plan - Managing Common Poll Resources for Poverty Reduction in Tribal Areas of Eastern India

by strong authority system. The efforts to bemade to strengthens grass-root level (PRIs)institutional arrangement for theirsustainability and workable without statesupport in future.

k. Multiuse Common Water (MCW) bodiesconstitute an important component ofcommunity assets in Orissa and significantlycontribute towards the livelihood of the poor.The area and productivity of these MCWs isdeclining, but still these constitute the mainsource. Therefore, multiple agencies couldbe involved in governing the resources andthat hinders the flexibility of this resource toreach its full potential.

l. Traditionally village water bodies in Orissahave been used and designated for particularuse to minimize conflict across thestakeholders. The policy makers may revisitthe traditional institutional arrangements ofmanaging these community assets in differentparts of the State. Public-private-community-partnership (PPCP) governance structure canbe promoted to enhance capacity ofcommunity in fish production with workableinstitutional arrangements supported byeffective authority system.

m. At present, the involvement of bankers inpisciculture is not much. Higher credit flowto this sector should be made by the banksand by promoting the SHG activities.Moreover, SHGs, Co-operative formationshould be encouraged and banklinkages to such groups should bestrengthened.

n. FFDAs have very crucial roles to play inproviding the much needed information andknowledge on aquaculture to the farmers.The state should prescribe, advertiseand promote indigenous formulation offeed for all types of fisheries. Developmentof aquaculture villages adopting clusterapproach and providing the requiredinfrastructure and facilities should getattention of DRDA/ Government. TheFisheries department should be in a positionto meet the technical needs of the fishermen.

INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGEDr V K R V Rao Road, Nagarabhavi, Bangalore–560072

Phone : 23215468, 23215519, 23215592 Fax : +91-80–23217008Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.isec.ac.in