ANALYSIS OF PRICE INFLATION OF EXPORTED CRAB AND CRAB PRODUCTS BY INDIA USING LASPEYRES PRICE INDEX

Crab is rich in protein and hence one of the finest dietary protein source. The crab protein is of high quality. The crab protein is easily digestible by people belonging to all ages. Crab meat is rich in vitamins, minerals and Omega – 3 polyunsaturated acids, it is low in fat content. Selenium is also in high amount in crab meat. Selenium plays a key role in the human’s antioxidant defence system, preventing damage to cells and tissues. Selenium also plays an important role in the function of the immune system, in thyroid hormone metabolism and synthesis in reproduction. Crab meat contains nearly 30 times the copper found in cod and 56 times that found in salmon and chicken. India is one of the leading exporters of crab and crab products. The crab and crab products export of India is increasing year after year also the export value is also increasing. But some of the Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are giving a good competition to India in export of crab and crab products export. This research work mainly aims to determine the price inflation of exported crab and crab products by India using laspeyres price index. The laspeyres price index for the year 2006 and 2016 was 252.10 and 302.52 respectively. The findings of the present research exhibits that the percentage inflation in export prices of Indian Crab and Crab products from 1996 to 2006 was 152.10%, while the percentage inflation rate has increased from 2006 to 2016 by 50.42%. There is inflation in export prices of Indian Crab and Crab products every decades but it is tremendous in the decade of 1996 to 2006 as compared to that of the decade 2006 to 2016. The reason behind the decline of prices in the last decade being that now many Asia countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc., have entered into the market of crab and crab product export. Due to which Indian crab and crab products have many competitors. Some constructive measures need to be taken in respect to increase the price and demand of commercially important Indian Crab and Crab products in the international Market.