INDIA WILL BE HOME TO LARGEST NUMBER OF AQUARIUM HOBBYISTS ON THE GLOBE AT THE END OF NEXT DECADE
The number of ornamental fish hobbyists was only 0.1% at the beginning of 21st century in India. It was estimated at about 1.25% of the total number of 7.88 crore urban house-holds during 2015. It is projected to attain a level of 5% before the end of next decade with present trend of growth. It will be the highest number of aquarium hobbyists in any single country of the world. Although, the percentage of aquarium hobbyists to the total population of a country may continue to remain highest in developed countries but in terms of number it will be highest in India. As per a simple method of economic analysis, the increasing demand or number of consumers of a product could be judged to a great extent by estimating the number of suppliers of that product at different time intervals. In case of aquarium trade, it is an aquarium shop which is serving as a supplier and providing products to aquarium hobbyists i.e. consumer. It is observed that the numbers of aquarium shops have grown manifolds in the country during the present decade. Now days, an aquarium shop can be found not only in large cities but also in smaller towns of the country. It indicates that the hobby of aquarium keeping is becoming popular even in semi-urban or rural regions.
The domestic aquarium industry is following a cyclic relationship of demand and supply. The increasing number of aquarium hobbyists are triggering the opening of new aquarium shops which in turn adding many more naive aquarium hobbyists. The adding of a new shop increases competition among the suppliers that reduces cost of basic aquarium products. As a result aquarium keeping hobby is becoming less expensive and affordable to large number of families. The process of cyclic relationship between demand and supply may remain continue for many more years in domestic aquarium industry. The change in social structure from joint to nuclear families, increasing average per capita income, changes in spending behavior, faith in feng-shui & vastu, promotional schemes of government etc. are some of the other important factors that are promoting the hobby of aquarium keeping and make India "A home to largest number of aquarium hobbyists".
