Post-frontline demonstration impact analysis of open sea cage culture among Sidi tribes in Gujarat

Front line demonstrations (FLD) evolved by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are conducted under the close supervision of scientists of the National Agriculture Research System, where in technologies are demonstrated for the first time by the scientists themselves before being fed in to the main extension system of the state machinery. Post-front line demonstration impact analysis on open sea cage culture of finfishes and lobsters, among Sidi tribes of Gujarat aimed at assessing the socio-personal, socio-psychological and socio-economic and behavioural characteristics of Sidis - a primitive tribal group who are the beneficiaries of the open sea cage culture programme of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) of the Government of India. Using multistage random sampling method, a sample of 135 Sidi tribals were selected from Veraval and Talala taluks in Junagadh District of Gujarat. The group consisted of 45 Sidis practising cage culture, 45 non-practising beneficiaries of the tribal society and 45 Sidis who were non-practising non-beneficiaries of the society. The findings of the study revealed that most of the participant beneficiaries (58.33%) were having high school level of education, compared to non-participant beneficiaries, most of whom were illiterates (55.55%). It could be inferred that, the participant beneficiaries had a higher average monthly income of ` 1,216.25 when compared to non-participant beneficiaries who earned an average monthly income of ` 854.25. Among the participant beneficiaries, 41.67% had medium level of knowledge in cage culture, 50% had medium level of attitude and 75% had medium level of perceived skill in cage culture technologies.