An Analysis of Performance of Fish Processing Industry in Maharashtra

Abstract

The fishery sector in India has transformed significantly. In the ancient newlineperiod, fishing was considered as a livelihood activity. Now, it is a commercial newlineactivity or business. Before 1960, only dried fish items were exported only to newlineneighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. With the newlinedevelopment of quick transport facilities and processing technologies, a variety newlineof frozen and value-added fish products are being exported from India to newlinevarious countries like U.S., France, Australia, Canada and Japan, European newlineUnion, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Belgium, etc. The fish newlineprocessing industry plays a vital role in the economic development of the newlinecountry by generating huge employment opportunities, especially to women newlineworkers, providing cheap and nutritious food to the weaker section of society, newlineand earning valuable foreign currency through the export of fish products. newlineHowever, the fish processing industry faces different kinds of problems related newlineto production and marketing. Hence, the study of the economic performance of newlinemarine fish processing units in Maharashtra has undertaken to analyze profiles, newlinebalance sheets, income-expenditure statements, and problems of these marine newlinefish processing units. It is found that inadequate raw material supply, high newlinecompetition in foreign markets, low efficiency of labour, lower quality of newlineproducts, and Lower utilization of production capacity are the major problems newlineof fish processing units. It is recommended that there is a necessity of optimum newlinecapacity utilization of processing industries, product diversification, value newlineaddition, and quality control to increase export from the fisheries sector of newlineMaharashtra. The Government has to invest much more in the creation of newlineinfrastructure facilities such as ports, airports, warehousing, and roads to newlineincrease the export from the State. newline