M. Krishnan

Publications (2) View all

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  Available from: M. Krishnan

  Article: Seaweed mariculture: an economically viable alternate livelihood option (ALO) for fishers

  R Narayankumar, M Krishnan
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  ABSTRACT: Seaweed mariculture offers an economically sustainable livelihood option for fisherwomen, who, with little effort can contribute significantly to the household income. Ealier in India, seaweeds were collected from natural stocks only. Later due to the indiscriminate collection from the natural stock and consistent demand from industries for high quality seaweeds, research on seaweed farming was initiated by Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in the 1960's. Today, seaweed farming techniques have been standardised, improved and made economically viable. The present paper makes an attempt to evaluate the economic performance of seaweed farming, including the employment generated in Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu. The average annual net income for the three-year farming period (Rs. 6.76 lakh) was higher than the initial investment (Rs. 5.97 lakh), indicating a payback period of lesser than a year. The estimated net present value (at 20% discount rate) was Rs. 1.30 million (implying an IRR, >100%) while the benefit-cost ratio was 1.70. All these indicators substantially establish the economic and financial feasibility of seaweed farming in Tamil Nadu. The employment potential of seaweed farming at Ramanathapuram District has been estimated at 7,65,000 man days with current development projections benefiting 5,000 families in the near future.
  Indian Journal of Fisheries 01/2011; 58(1):79-84.
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  Available from: M. Krishnan

  Article: Structure, Conduct and Performance of Value Chain in Seaweed farming in India

  M. Krishnan, R. Narayanakumar
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  ABSTRACT: Among the three types of technologies available in the fisheries sector in India, seaweed farming, initially promoted as a livelihood option, has emerged as the one area which probably has the maximum potential for up-scaling. This paper has examined the structure, conduct and performance of the value chain in seaweed farming in India inquiring into the production, institutional, marketing, social and community relationships in small-scale seaweed farming in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu and the concept of self-help groups (SHG) as an increasingly workable option for coastal resources management. The value chain analysis of the sector has substantially proved that committed and synergistic production, marketing and institutional arrangements enabled by corporate leadership, offers considerable savings in transaction costs. The SHG model has also shown strong gender orientation in the initial years of seaweed culture in the district contributing to strong structural foundations to the movement. The seaweed sector in the coastal India has all the potential to rise from the low-income conditions normally associated with basic livelihood activities to higher levels of employment-income-consumption relationships.
  Agricultural Economics Research Review. 23(2010).