Search

Shrimp culture and its export are growing fast in India in tandem with the global demand for protein‐rich seafood. Farmers are always seeking newer technologies and cultural practices to alleviate risks and remain profitable and sustainable. One of the practices that is gaining prevalence in recent years is Penaeus vannamei culture in lined ponds in brackish water and low saline environments. Our study aims to understand the differences in physicochemical and chemical parameters between lined and earthen ponds in simulated experiments and field studies and weighs the economic benefits. Earthen ponds exhibited lower pH fluctuations than lined as soil functions as a buffer against pH variations. The key differentiators were the lower metabolites and higher nutrients in the lined ponds leading to a healthier pond environment. It was complemented by lower vibrio load in the lined ponds, reducing the threat of diseases significantly. Comparatively, 12.5% higher survival rate and 9% higher growth rate were evidenced in the earthen ponds. Economically, lining material increases the initial capital cost and the income per culture was lower due to marginally lower survival and growth rates in lined ponds. However, this reduced profitability was more than offset by the possible higher number of cultures per year and reduced time between cultures. The economic analysis of average culture data established economic advantage of culture in lined ponds over earthen ponds with an incremental Benefit Cost ratio of 2.15. Ultimately, the choice of lined versus earthen culture depends on the investment and risk potential of the farmer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training is essential for producing an able corps of entrepreneurs who not only survive and thrive, but also contribute to the local and ultimately the global economy. Becoming an entrepreneur is a process of encountering, assessing, and reacting to a series of experiences, situations, and events produced by political, economic, social and cultural changes. This paper studies the training and development programs followed by AWAKE, SISI, MDTC, RVIT and KASSIA in educating potential and existing women entrepreneurs in Karnataka State, and evaluates the impact of the programs. Within the context of research proposal, hypotheses were propounded. While primary analytical research methodology was adopted to carry out the research, cluster random sampling methodology was adopted to select the sample women entrepreneurship training centers in Karnataka. Five institutes were considered for the study, and out of the 1,000 trained women entrepreneurs from each institute, 100 samples were selected for collecting the data. The study reveals the impact of training and development on potential and existing women entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]