Constraints Encountered by Farmers Engaged in Shrimp Cultivation in Punjab

In the south-western region of Punjab, shrimp farming is helping in transforming the land which was once unsuitable for farming and growing crops due to waterlogged and saline conditions. However, while shrimp farming presents a favourable prospect for income diversification, yet shrimp farmers has to face various constraints. The objective of this study is to explore the main constraints faced in shrimp production, marketing and financing. The study was carried out in Muktsar and Fazilka districts of southwestern region of Punjab in the year 2023-2024. Forty farmers were selected using probability proportional to size sampling categorized in small, medium and large on the basis of area under shrimp farming was taken to study their perceptions using a 5-point Likert scale with an aim to analyse the seriousness of the constraints. The study found out that the highest cost of feed was the main constraint with Likert scale value 4.88 followed by electricity cost (4.83), shrimp seed cost (4.25) and disease outbreaks (4.20). Small farmers faced the highest feed cost (4.96) whereas large farmers reported electricity cost (5.00). While in marketing constraint, price fluctuation and uncertainty of prices scored 5.00 in Likert scale followed by lack of storage facility (3.83) and access to price information (3.68) were reported by shrimp farmers. In financial constraints, small farmers reported about the lack of institutional credit (1.98) followed by high interest rate from non-institutional credit (1.20) as major issues. The study recommends policies that provide access to quality seed and affordable feed, improve disease control, offer technical training, upgrade storage and market access, and ensure easier access to fair credit.