Exploring the Hardships of Retail Fish Vendors in Ernakulam District, Kerala State

This research paper will deal with examining the problems and threats faced by fish market vendors in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The main aim of the study is to find out the key financial, operational, and environmental challenges of fish vendors, discuss the main problems of operations like price fluctuation and seasonal changes, and measure the degree of satisfaction with the income, working conditions, and market facilities. The primary data on which the study will be based is the survey of 75 respondents who will be given a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using different statistical methods which included percentage analysis, weighted average ranking, correlation analysis as well as factor analysis. The findings of factor analysis indicated that three key dimensions of the challenges, i.e. financial risks, operational problems, and environmental factors, can be responsible of the substantial portion of the total variance. Diverging all these, financial risks became the most decisive aspect upon the vendors. It was found that the most important issues that affect the operation of the vendors are price variations, seasonal factors, and buying pressure in bulk. It is also found that income levels, working conditions and market facility availability have a significant effect on vendor satisfaction. Depending on the results, the research recommends that the livelihood and general satisfaction of fish market vendors should be improved through financial assistance, better infrastructure, and proper policy interventions. All in all, the research is an important contribution to understanding the challenges of fish vendors and can be a viable solution to their better economic conditions and terms of work.

Fish Vendors, Risks and Challenges

1. Adeyemi, O., & Oladipo, T. (2021). Financial constraints and informal market operations among fish vendors. Journal of Small Business Studies, 12(3), 45–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ahmed, S., Rahman, M., & Ali, K. (2023). Supply chain disruptions and their impact on fish market vendors. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 18(2), 102–115. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Béné, C., Barange, M., Subasinghe, R., et al. (2021). Small-scale fisheries and livelihoods: Challenges and opportunities. Marine Policy, 124, 104–112. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Das, P., Ghosh, S., & Roy, K. (2022). Role of intermediaries in fish marketing and its impact on vendors. Indian Journal of Fisheries Economics, 9(1), 66–74. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Dela Cruz, R., & Torres, M. (2023). Challenges faced by fish vendors in public markets. Asian Journal of Business Research, 11(4), 88–101. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Islam, M., & Choudhury, N. (2020). Socio-economic conditions of fish market vendors. International Journal of Social Economics, 47(5), 623–635. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Kumari, S., & Singh, A. (2022). Gender issues in fish marketing sector. Journal of Gender Studies, 15(2), 77–89. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Mercado, L. D., & Herrera, A. Y. (2024). Sustainability challenges in fisheries sector. Environmental Economics Review, 19(1), 55–70. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Nair, R., & Joseph, P. (2023). Occupational health issues among fish vendors. Indian Journal of Occupational Health, 14(2), 120–128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Paul, B., Saha, D., & Mondal, R. (2021). Working conditions and health risks of fish market vendors. Journal of Public Health Research, 10(3), 210–218. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Rahman, M., Karim, F., & Hasan, S. (2022). Infrastructure challenges in fish markets. Journal of Rural Development, 17(1), 34–49. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Sharma, V., & Gupta, R. (2022). Environmental exposure and risks in fish vending. Environmental Health Journal, 8(2), 95–104. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Singh, H., Ranjan, D., Verma, P., & Upadhyay, A. (2024). Issues in fisheries sector and implications for vendors. Biotica Research Today, 6(1), 39–45. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• “A Study on Assesing The Pros and Cons of Adopting Green HRM Practices in Higher Educational Institutions”
• Analysis of Impact of GST Announcements on Indian Stock Market
• Shaping Commerce Education through AI and Fintech Pedagogies in Bengaluru
• Education Loan in Higher Education: A Study with Special Reference to Dakshina Kannada
• Education Loan in Higher Education: A Study with Special Reference to Dakshina Kannada