Department of Agricultural Economics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002, Tamil Nadu.
Tuna, commonly known as chicken of the sea is the third largest internationally traded fish commodity, which contributes about 7.6 per cent to the total fish trade in value terms. This study has analysed the scope of tuna processing and marketing in India, especially as a small-scale business venture. The cost and return analysis has revealed that the annual net income from a tuna cannery with a capital cost of Rs 10,50,000/- would be Rs 5,66,000/-. The break even quantity has been worked out to be 58,175 cans per annum, which has been found to be even less than half of the production capacity of processing units. The pay back analysis has revealed that the capital invested would be paid back within a period of two years. Hence, the tuna processing venture could be a potential and productive option for the unemployed youths and performing SHGs. Encouraging potential clients to take up the venture, would also help in effective utilization of a so far under-utilized tuna resource in the country.
