LOW-PROFITABILITY IN FISH PRODUCTION : A PROBLEM CAUSE ANALYSIS IN BIRBHUM DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL

The present work is a sort of participatory research, which is rather an orientation than a set ofspecific methods (Cornwall and Jewkes, 1995, http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/ dan027-DAN027C8) which emphasizes the importance of the knowledge and views of the community (Leung et al., 2004, http:// heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/ dan027-DAN027C30). Tools which focus on visualizations are commonlyused in participatory approaches to assist in the process (Cornwalland Jewkes, 1995, http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/ cgi/content/full/dan027-DAN027C8; Rifkin et al., 2000, http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/ full/dan027-DAN027C36), and include mapping and diagrams (Rifkin et al., 2000, http:// heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/ dan027-DAN027C36). Methods used to develop an understanding of the causes of a problem include spider diagrams, problem walls (International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2005, http:// heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/ content/full/ dan027-DAN027C25), flow diagrams (Rifkin et al., 2000, http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/ content/full/dan 027-DAN027C36), mind maps (Start and Hovland,2004, http://eapro. oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/dan027- DAN027C40) and also problem trees (http:// heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/ dan027-DAN027C1). Theseare similar in intent and process, and offer the options ofidentifying potential solutions. Problem and solution trees (PASTs) have been extensively used in developing countries. Problem trees can help to determine the root causes ofthe main problem (ESCAP/UNDP/ADB,2007, http:// heapro. oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/dan027- DAN027C15), identify the effects and also possible solutions (AusAID, 2003, http://heapro. oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/dan027- DAN027C3).