Training fisherwomen in fish processing

A project on training fisherwomen for their participation in rural development, sponsored by Ford Foundation (U.S.A), has been started by the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, T.N AU.,at the Fisheries College, Tuticorin. The project alms to select a few literate rural women with leadership qualities for Imparting to them a training In the organisational and managerial aspects of a viable fish processing enterprise. It also alms to assist the trained fisherwomen in organising and operating cottage industries by continued technical backing and thus making the production units demonstration centres for the benefit of other women In the region. The preliminary survey helped in identifying 5 candidates from each of the 3 selected villages. The pre-survey revealed the respondents' choice of subject-areas to undergo training and their enthusiasm to learn techniques for the preparation of fish products like fish pickle and MasI Meen. It also revealed their desire to be exposed to new products like fish wafers, fish oil, fish meal, shark fin-rays etc. The pre- and post evaluations of the training programme helped In I) identifying training needs In the fields of marketing and financial management; II) Identifying some low-cost technological substitutes for some of the commercial products (eg: 'Gadi' for vineger); ill) identifying the products or techniques appreciated by the trainees and the products or techniques that received lukewarm response with reasons for such a response: Iv) Identifying the level of managerial efficiency gained by the trainees and the kind of support required for each Individual to start cottage industries. The programme Is being followed up by Interpersonal contacts and the co-ordinate efforts of the development departments