Probabilities and Potentialities of SHG-led Women Entrepreneurship in the Fish Processing and Value Addition Sector

Women form the main pillar of post-harvest fisheries, with the majority (more than 85%) of them being employed in fishery processing as well as in related work. They add value to the products, which include fish pickles, cutlets, surimi products, and ready-to-eat products, which not only meet changing consumer demand but also lead to new domestic and overseas markets. Although they dominate labour, fisherwomen are regularly not included in the process of decision-making, nor do they have access to entrepreneurial opportunities. The paper discusses the potential of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in facilitating female entrepreneurship in fish processing and value addition. Using secondary sources, policy documents, and empirical case studies, the study shows how SHGs create collective action, improve income and empower women socially and economically. Strategic measures by NFDB, ICAR-CIFT, NABARD, and PMMSY have been instrumental in training, credit provision, and market connectivity; however, factors such as technological constraints, poor infrastructure, and gender hurdles persist. The paper concludes that skill training, access to finance, and incubation can empower fisherwomen as independent entrepreneurs with SHG as a vehicle to rural livelihoods and the national economy.