Understanding knowledge and attitude towards harvest and post-harvest handling of fish: insights from aquaculture farmers of minor irrigation tanks in Odisha, India

Fish loss during harvest and post-harvest is a major concern in fisheries and aquaculture, and much of this loss is due to the poor knowledge and attitude of fishers and farmers. The present study aimed to assess existing knowledge and attitudes towards better fish handling, while examining the association between socio-demographic factors and knowledge and attitude levels. Using cross-sectional data of 194 fish producers and employing item response theory (IRT) and regression techniques the study indicated that fish farmers had a lower-than-average score for most of the knowledge and attitude items relating to fish handling during harvest and post-harvest. The findings of the study further pointed out that socio-demographic factors such as education level, possession of a smartphone (β = 0.715, p = 0.000), membership in a farmer organization (β = 0.227, p = 0.075) and experience (β = 0.020, p =0.074) are important determinants for realizing higher knowledge score and possession of a smartphone (β = 0.693, p = 0.000) membership (β = 0.281, p = 0.014), and family size (β = 0.046, p = 0.080) are significant determinants for attitude score. The study recommends the need for diffusion of training programmes specifically targeting educated and member-producers (of producer groups) for better training outcomes and sustainable aquaculture sector development.