Women contribution in small scale fisheries: special reference to Kalahagala fishing village in Polonnaruwa district in Sri Lanka

This research examined how women contribute to fisheries activities, households' consumption, and to total income. Primary data was collected by conducting face-to-face interviews using pre-tested questionnaires from 41.6% of the total population in Kalahagala fishing village located nearby Prakrama Samudraya. Data analysis was performed with descriptive statistics. Women's involvement in fishing is exceptionally high in the sampled village due to easy accessibility to the fishing grounds in the reservoir. Irrespective of race, religion, education, and gender, women members of the fisheries association are involved in fishing alone or with their husbands due to the prevailing economic problems. Fish selling, dry fish production, and repairing and maintaining the fishing gears are the main fishing activities that women performed. About 59% of women engaged in fish selling. Furthermore, 50% of women produced dry fish in the village. The main contribution of women in fisheries is collective harvesting, selling, and dry fish processing which contributes to a 35% share of households' income. In addition, about one to two kilo grams of fish they use for subsistence purposes from the daily catch which is ensuring the nutritional level of the family members. The main drawback for the fishing activities of women is monsoon rain which is disturbed for fishing in the reservoir and processing dry fish.