conclusion and suggestion of internal trade
Answers
Due to diverse regulations between regions and states in Indian, the prospects for growth in aquaculture differ with varying degrees of commercialization and levels of development of infrastructure, consumer demand and inter-state movements. The highly protected crop sector is likely to remain free from restrictions in the future, since exposure of this sector would deprive it of state support. This might favour the growth of alternative sub-sectors, such as aquaculture. Under liberalized conditions, earlier priority accorded to national food self-sufficiency becomes secondary. Once the economy augments its export capability, imports can be arranged as and when they are needed. A shift from crops to livestock and aquaculture is likely, since they are more highly valued. With declining food subsidies for cereals, the consumption of fish and meat products will become the best alternative source of nutrition for the rural poor.
Trends in areas under aquaculture indicate that the sector has been steadily expanding during the post-reform period. However, no significant change has been observed so far in utilization patterns of total cultivable land in favour of crops. This observation suggests that, up till now, increase in the area under aquaculture has come from unutilized cultivable land and water-spread areas. However, further expansions in aquaculture may have an impact on the crop sector to some extent.
Analysis of the area under aquaculture reveals that it has grown; yet it occupies only 16% of total available area. Punjab leads other states in utilizing available water-spread areas with a yield of around 4-5 t/ha. Output from aquaculture production in India increased from 788 000 t in 1987 to 1 768 422 t during 1996; valued at US$ 827 million and US$ 1 980 million respectively. As regards the cost of production of fish, several points need to be noted. First, the cost of producing fish is considerably lower than that for chicken or meat. On the other hand, over the last ten years, the cost of producing fish in commercial fish farms has increased more than five times. Thus, as production per hectare and total production are increasing, so are real costs.
In India, consumers always prefer meat and chicken. However, in recent years, fish consumption has shown a significant increase among the younger generation. For example, higher and middle-income groups show a strong preference for freshwater fishes such as Indian major carps and catfish. Further, fish remains a staple in the diet of the urban and rural poor.
Traditionally, Indian marine exports consisted only of marine and cultured shrimps. They still continue to be important, but over the years, the composition of exports has been changing; some of the freshwater prawns and fish have emerged in the export market. Products from aquaculture, such as freshwater prawns and rohu, have become an important item in the total of marine exports.
India initiated aquaculture development programmes during the 1980s and 1990s. Initially, there were constraints on fish farming, but growth in production of aquatic items was accelerated in some regions such as Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar.