Abstract

Fish farming is an important driver of rural livelihoods and food security in West Bengal, India, yet the sector struggles with high input costs, transport bottlenecks, and post-harvest losses. This study, conducted in East Midnapore and North 24 Parganas, covered 450 stakeholders across the fish value chain. Analytical tools, including cost-benefit analysis, value chain mapping, and regression modelling, were applied to assess efficiency and profitability. Results showed production and marketing costs of ?109.6 per kg, a net profit of ?50.2 per kg, and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.46. Technical efficiency was moderate (0.78), while marketing efficiency stood at 1.27. Post-harvest losses were estimated at 9.8 per cent. Regression analysis indicated that profitability declined with greater market distance and higher input costs, but improved significantly with access to cold storage and participation in contract farming. The results suggested that enhancing access to cold storage facilities, encouraging contract-based marketing, and strengthening local market linkages can substantially improve farmer returns and reduce operational inefficiencies. Institutional support focused on infrastructure and market coordination is therefore essential for sustaining growth in the fisheries sector of West Bengal.

Description

Indian J Econ Dev, 2026, 22(1), 144-152
https://doi.org/10.35716/IJED-25390

Journal Metrics

Impact Factor: 0.2 (2025)
NAAS Score: 6.20 (2026)
Indexed in Scopus (Since 2019)
UGC Approved