Job satisfaction of fisheries extension professionals: An exploratory study in Tripura, North-east India

Shortage in different cadres of Fisheries extension professionals in Tripura led the present study to identify their perceived level of job satisfaction and also to probe into the constraints faced by such professionals and put forth probable suggestions. The research methodology premised on structured interview schedule, with factors of job satisfaction as well as a scale with 20 statements, filled by respondents and those were rated in a five-point continuum. Results revealed that 71.46% fisheries extension professionals confessed to "medium" level of job satisfaction. Multiple stepwise logistic forward regressions made it clear that proximity to job location, health status, service duration and caste were possible factors, which appear to have significant influence over perceived job satisfaction. Weighted average scores of different 'organisational' and 'work environmental' factors of job satisfaction were 2.61, 2.89 respectively, indicating 'medium' level of satisfaction whereas, 'job content', 'job roles and responsibility' and 'personal factors' of job satisfaction scored 3.32, 3.39 and 3.74 respectively, suggesting 'high' level of satisfaction. Values of Rank Based Quotient revealed that financial crunch in the Fisheries Department (98.72), delayed sanction in procuring essential official items (97.58), insufficient quality inputs and untimely supply to the fish farmers (87.89) were the three major constraints associated with their job. Study suggests that adequate budget allocation, timely recruitment of staff with proper job specification and capacity building may significantly improve the level of job satisfaction for sustainable growth of fisheries sector in the state.