Studies on impact of different wastes on fish related agribusiness of some selected areas of east kolkata wetlands with refernce to economic status of fishers

Abstract

The Ramsar Site , East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) with its environmental uniqueness, is situated at the eastern fringe of Kolkata, the metropolitan city, acts as the lungs of the city. Nevertheless, in recent decades, due to rapid urbanization, increase of population in the city, illegal land acquisition and conversion of wetlands, dumping of untreated industrial sewages along with domestic sewages, the wetlands are in threatened position. The wetland is the major source of agriculture and fishery products to city of 14 million inhabitants, maintaining the livelihood of 16,200 fishers. The conservation of environment and economic development of society both in the EKW are important. The natural resources of EKWs are utilized for agricultural and fishery production besides the dumping of huge city sewage. The current study will help the society to know the current situation of this treasured bio network and will also help to maintain the system more accurately in future. The utilization of the city sewage for agro and aqua production is unique here and poor people of the nearby villages depend on the agro and aqua production for their livelihood. Cooperative societies play an important role for the development of aqua business, livelihood status of the poor people and their socio-economic development. The fishers use to earn rupees 1500.00 to 12000.00 per month from different activities in aquaculture production. Illiteracy, health problems are the common problems of the society of fishers in the area around EKW Females (79.04%) are mostly illiterate than males (44.86%) used to face different social problems and domestic violence. Males are the dominant members of the family, though females win the bread winner model, as 50.00% the male and 66.98% of the female members are the main earners of the family, and they use to earn for their family more than the male members. newline