Livelihood Generation of Women by Mud Crab (Scylla sp.) fattening in Deltaic Sundarban of West Bengal

Brackish water crab fattening in Sundarban is an old and traditional practice which is playing a significant role in livelihood of coastal people. The womens participation played an integral role in mud crab fattening. They are either directly involved in mud crab fattening or in many cases they are assisting their husband or other family members in feeding, stocking, and other pre and post-stocking management. The present study was conducted during 2011-2012 in different villagess of Gosaba block of Sundarban. Most of them involved in feed application, while involvment in marketing was less. This is due to some social and religious norms and also for the pressure of other household works. They experienced lack of seed availability, exploitation by the middleman, non-existence of proper transport facility, proper market information, proper insurance and training facilities to avail a better return from the investment. Adequate fund and government support, incorporation of training and counseling etc. are required for the promotion of crab fattening. This in turn generate an alternative livelihood for sustainable development to a huge number of coastal rural women.