Objectives: To analyze the extent of adoption of hygienic fish handling practices by marketing personnels in selected fish markets of Port Blair city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Methods/Statistical Analysis: Around 20 fish marketing personnel’s each randomly selected from the major fish markets. A pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule and observation method is used for the collection of information. The adequacy index of infrastructure facility, extent of adoption of hygienic measures, adoption measure for improved marketing practices by marketing personnel were analysed through the statistical tools like percentage, mean SD, F test, Correlation and regression were used by using statistical package Minitab 17.
Findings: The ‘F’ value analyzed for the socio-economic variables shows significant difference among the marketing personnels of the three selected markets. Overall availability index in all three markets shows high infrastructure availability in proper shed (90.55±13.41), transportation facility (86.10±15.38), cemented floor (82.77±14.68), clean ground condition (76.66±20.73) whereas, a very less availability index in clean water (55.11±20.30), drainage system (50.55±18.18), waste disposable facility (40.55±9.09), hygienic toilet (33.88±7.45) and electricity (57.22±14.88). Among all the seven hygienic practices measured, personal hygiene (77.77±19.93), clean container for storage of fish (74.99±19.96), clean polyethene for consumer (58.33±19.83), hygienic sorting of fish (57.22±22.19) and use of ice to prevent spoilage (52.77±16.88) were found adopted by majority of fish marketing personnel’s while practices such as washing of fish with clean water (41.66±14.23) and waste disposal (36.11±9.04) are found less adopted. The value R2 shows if all variable taken together will cause 0.89 % of the variation in the adoption level. The major constraint responded is the cost of ice (76.66%) followed by the insufficient space in the marketplace (73.33%).
Application/Improvements: A training and awareness programmes needs to be conducted by extension agencies, research organizations and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Fisheries department for increasing the knowledge about a hygienic condition and hygienic handling of fish in a fish market. Assistance by providing sufficient infrastructure by Fisheries department and maintenance of cold chain will help to improve extent of adoption of fish handling by marketing personnels.