Evaluation of Market Potentiality of Bellamya bengalensis at Selected Market Areas in Purulia District, West Bengal, India

Among the fresh water gastropods in West Bengal, Bellamya bengalensis has great nutritional values. That is why B. bengalensis has admirable demand to the people of all the economic classes, mainly in Purulia and its nearby districts. By encompassing this snail markets, a large number of people are able to meet their daily livelihood as well as maintain their family in these areas. An assessment was made of B. bengalensis on its marketing process and daily marketing transaction at different selected market areas (Purulia Town Market, Punchar Market, Lalpur Market and Man Marker) of Purulia district. Through the protocol "Private Distribution System" and segregating a year into quarterly intervals (Pre-monsoon, Monsoon and Post monsoon season), the whole marketing process was characterized. People (seller) gathered B. bengalensis either by purchasing from collectors or by collecting from nearby ponds, swamps, dam areas, etc. The selling of flesh product (without shell) and whole product (flesh with shell) of this snail was found to vary signifcantly throughout the three seasons. Here, availability was considered as the main reason regarding price variation. So, sustainable aquaculture of B. bengalensis is required to overcome this fluctuation (availability and price) and to make a steady marketing process.