Level of Knowledge of Brackishwater Shrimp Farmers about the Improved Practices in Shrimp Farming

The study was undertaken to ascertain the level of knowledge of brackishwater shrimp farmers about the improved practices in shrimp farming in the State of Kerala and to find out the relationship of socio-psychological and economic characteristics with level of knowledge. A group of 100 shrimp farmers from six maritime Districts of Kerala State viz., Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur was selected using Proportionate Random Sampling technique which constituted the sample for the present study. The results of the study show that majority of the respondents possessed medium level of knowledge (93%). Only five per cent of the farmers possessed high level of knowledge while two per cent had low level of knowledge in brackish water shrimp farming. Age, occupation, experience, annual income, farm- size, and indebtedness showed non - significant - association with level of knowledge of brackish water farmers whereas, education, information source utilization, risk orientation, social participation, marketing orientation and extension participation were positively and significantly correlated.