Socio-economic Profile, Market Structure, and Marketing Constraints of Fish Vendors in Barnala District, Punjab, India
Rajinder Kaur *
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barnala, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
P. S. Tanwar
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barnala, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study was conducted to assess the socio-economic conditions of fish vendors, the market structure, and the constraints faced in fish marketing in Barnala district, Punjab. The study was conducted from March to June 2026. Primary data were collected from 14 fish vendors through a structured questionnaire administered in Punjabi at three vending sites: Handiaya village (site 1), the fish market near Sekha Phatak (site 2), and the area near the Trident factory (site 3). The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. The results showed that 64.28% of the vendors were engaged solely in selling raw fish, whereas 35.72% combined fish vending with fish farming in village ponds. Although fish is highly perishable, 85.71% of the vendors did not have access to a deep freezer. None of the vendors was involved in fish processing or value addition, indicating potential scope for these activities in Barnala district. The major constraints included the lack of deep-freezer facilities, the use of handmade wooden descaling tools fitted with iron nails, and limited value addition.
Keywords: Fish vendors, socio-economic profile, fish marketing, market structure, marketing constraints, cold storage, value addition, fish consumption