Socio-Economic Impact of Information and Communication
Technology: A Case Study of Kerala Marine Fisheries
s
Sector.
Sabu M & Shaijumon C S
Dept. of Humanities
Indian Institute of Space Science and
Technology (IIST)
Trivandrum, Kerala
sabumaria@gmail.com
Profile of Kerala Marine
Fisheries
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Coastal length: 590 km
No. of landing centres: 187
No. of fishing villages: 222
Fishermen population: 6,10,165
Fishermen families: 1,18,937
Mechanized crafts: 4,722
Motorized crafts: 11,175
Non-motorized crafts: 5,884
Major fishing gears: Trawlnet,
Ringseine, Gillnets, Hooks &
lines
 Total landings in 2012: 8,39,185
 Important species/groups: Oil
sardine, Mackerel, Penaeid
prawns, Threadfin breams, Scads
Introduction
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Technological invention , innovation and diffusion are important sources of
economic development.
Innovation has its impact only when a technology is successfully diffused
Normally, diffusion process shows S shaped curve (Rogers, 1995)
S shaped cv shows– innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority
and laggards
Diffusion of ICTs – a general purposive technology - its positive impact in
fisheries sector is very significant in present scenario of Kerala economy.
What causes in the fisheries sector of Kerala by the continuous adoption of
ICT tools- GPS, Echo-sounder, Wireless set, Mobile phone and Beacon?
How is the usage level of ICTs in marine fisheries sector of Kerala?
Kerala –highest contributor (2012).
8.41 lakh tonnes (2012) - 8 percent of the GSDP from the agriculture sector
Kerala fisher folk population - 10.02 lakh covering 7.71 lakh in coastal- 2
lakh active fishermen (CMFRI, census 2010)
Contd…
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Avg fish landings and fishing fleets- no substantial increase in the fish catch
Only 31.46 % of offshore waters are exploited scope for exploitation of 1.
25 million tonnes of deep sea resources (CMFRI 2012).
Importance of deep sea fishing and relevance of Information and
communication technology tools.
A technological diffusion in Kerala has occurred from many centuries before.
Modernization of technology- 1950s
Norwegian – INP- new methods of fishing and new types of gear
Mechanization of crafts –1953
Motorization of crafts (SIFFS) – 1980
GPS application – 1990s
Mobile application - 1997
ICTs- Global Position System (GPS), Eco-sounder, Mobile phone, Wireless
set, Radar and Beacon in fishing can contribute more in the economy by
enhancing more productivity of fish.
The level of usage of tools and its economic impact on fishermen is more
relevant to study in this context.
Marine and inland fish
production all India (2010-2011)
Marine
45%
Marine and inland fish
production Kerala (2010-2011)
Inland
55%
Inland
18%
Source:CMFRI annual report, 2011
Marine
82%
Marine fish landings in Kerala
9
8
Lakh in tonne
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Year
Source: CMFRI, various annual reports
Objective of the study
 To assess the socio-economic impact of information and communication
technologies among fishermen in Kerala.
 To evaluate the usage of ICT tools and problems faced by the fishermen
of Kerala.
Methodology
 Both quantitative and qualitative
 The primary data were collected from the two fishing community of
Munambam in Ernakulam district and Pozhiyoor in Thiruvanathapuram
district for the comparative study purpose .
 Unit of samples were motorised sector fishermen in Pozhiyoor and
Mechanized sector fishermen in Ernakulam, Kerala and total sample size
was 50.
 Secondary data were collected from various surveys, various reports,
marine census and research studies.
 Focus group discussion was done in each fishing areas for deep
understanding of real situation.
Munambam
Study Areas
Pozhiyoor
Review of Literature- World
No.
Authors
Remarks
1
Samsons (2006)
They presented the result of pilot fishnet initiative (FNI) –
Nigeria- Information on marketing and fish distribution
through - high effectiveness of ICT- TVs, leaflets, radio,
posters etc-
2
FAO (2007)
New (ICTs) —empowerment-Manobi weather reports
and market prices using via mobile phones-launched a
GIS system, using GPS to increase protection at sea for
fishermen and their
3
Hassan et.al.
(2011)
Malaysia- significant relation- productivity increasessimple arithametic calculations.
4
Shaffril (2011)
Malaysia. - a pre test study -reliability and validity &
measuring usage of GPS, sonar, echo sounder, wireless set
ad mobile phone among the fishermen
5
Mahamadu
(2011
Ghana -mobile phone - cost reducing factors, safety
factors, coordination factors, and market expansion factors.
Review of Literature - India
No.
Authors
Remarks
1
Gine (2005)
Credit constraints - faced by relatively poor boat owners
are important - long run the innovation benefited the poor
more than proportionally - Kuznets inverted u shaped
inequality curve.
2
De (2008)
Aquaculture farmers – role of ATIC)-technological
information along with technology inputs and products for
testing and use –NICT-to improve the communication,
disseminate information and share knowledge and skill.
3
Govindaraju
(2010)
Tamil Nadu- VKC (Village Knowledge Center)- egovernance, e-agriculture, e-education,e-health and other
services at free of cost-information about mobile phone
with GPS
4
Mary (2011)
Kanyakumari-ICT usage – mobile (70%) – radio (28%)know more about modern technology and make use of it
for efficiency is the most challenging factor.
Review of Literature - Kerala
No.
Authors
Remarks
1
Achari & Menon
(1963)
Mechanical technology in fishing led to a commendable increase
in the number of mechanized boats that led to increase in assets
as well as liabilities of boat owner households.
2
John Kurien
(1999)
Diffusion of plywood boat(1980-91)- innovators, early adoptors
& early followers-
3
Abraham (2006)
Mobile phones has led a significant role in Kerala marine
industry – prod
uctivity enhanced
4
Jensen (2007)
Mobile phones among Kerala fishermen CV of price declined
from 60–70 to 15 percent or less - no violations of the Law of
One Price – No wastage
5
Pillai & Prethia
(2010)
PFZ advisories generated by (INCOIS) along the Kerala coast
during 2006-2010, was very much useful for artisanal, motorized
and small mechanized sector higher catch per unit effort for the
major pelagic and improving fishing operations.
Study Analysis
Social Impact
 Age wise
 Education
 Asset ownership
 Period of using ICT tools
Economic Impact
 Average income
 Income expenditure of fishermen
 Benefits from using ICT tools
 Debt
Usage of ICT tools
 Social Impact
Age wise analysis
Age
Munambam
Pozhiyoor
(%)
(%)
Less than 25
30
-
25-35
45
35
35-45
25
50
45-55
-
10
55-65
-
5
Education of the fishermen
Education
Munambam (%)
Pozhiyoor (%)
No Formal
Education
25.0
55.0
Primary School
35.0
40.0
Upper Primary
5.0
-
High School
35.0
5.0
Total
100.0
100.0
Own trawler/vessels of fishermen
100
90
80
70
60
Yes
No
50
40
30
20
10
0
Munampam
Pozhiyoor
Period of using ICT tools in Munambam and Pozhiyoor
Year
Munambam
Pozhiyoor
(Percent)
(Percent)
1 year but less than 2
--
5.0
2 years but less than 3
--
10.0
3 years but less than 5
55.0
65.0
Greater than 5years
45.0
20.0
Total
100.0
100.0
Economic Impact
Average monthly income of Munambam and Pozhiyoor
fishermen(in percent)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
5000-10000
10000-15000
15000-20000
Munambam
20000-25000
Pozhiyoor
Benefit of ICT tools for the fishermen
Impact
Munambam
Pozhiyoor
(Percent)
(Percent)
10.0
10.0
0
5.0
70.0
40.0
Iincreased income level,
increased productivity level
and inncreased communication
5.0
10.0
Increased income and
productivity
15.0
35.0
Increased productivity of fish
Increased communication
Increased productivity,
increased income level and
improved standard of living
Income spend by fishermen
Income spend
Munambam
(%)
Pozhiyoor (%)
House Construction
5.0
10.0
Debt Repayment
10.0
15.0
Food House Construction
Educating Children Debt
Repayment
65.0
Food Debt Education
Others
25.0
20.0
0
30.0
5.0
Usage of ICTs tools
120
100
Percent
80
GMWE
GMW
60
40
20
0
Munambam
pozhiyoor
Cross tabulation
Average monthly income
What is level of education (Munambam &
Pozhiyoor)
No formal
educaiton
Primary
school
Upper
primary
High
school
5000-10000
33.3%
33.3%
5.6%
27.8%
10000-15000
16.7%
33.3%
.0%
50.0%
15000-20000
14.3%
71.4%
.0%
14.3%
20000-25000
77.8%
22.2%
.0%
.0%
Availability of fishing kit in Munambam and Pozhiyoor
Items
Munambam
Pozhiyoor
(Percent)
(Percent)
Safety kit
0
87.5
Wireless
0
12.5
Total
0
100.0
Major findings
 All the fishermen of case study area are the migratory fishermen
 The majority of the fishermen in Pozhiyoor coastal village are labours with age
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group of 35-45 (50%) and only a few is the owner of a gill-net boat (30%) and it
is zero in Munambam.
The majority of the fishermen in Munambam is engaged with trawling boat ,
would go up to 150nml and Gill Boats (100-200 nml) by Pozhiyoor fishermen.
All they got information about such new technology from their own friends and
colleagues.
All the fishermen in the both the coastal villages revealed that GPS wireless and
echo sounder increased their productivity , income and standard of living
There is no updated information is about weather forecasting at sea they usually
approach traditional method still now.
The mobile phone helped a lot both the fishermen to know the available market
price and communicate with their dear ones when they reach around
This study also reveals that there is no any relation between education of
fishermen and capability of fishermen using such technologies.
The problem regarding ICT tool is its poor accessibility and lack of using beacon
for life safety.
No any VIC,VKC,VRC in the research area and no role of PFZ.