Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology
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Assessing the Relationship between Profile Characteristics and Occupational Stress among the Farmers of Mahbubnagar District of Telangana State, India
No full textFor countries like India, where most agricultural households are small, marginal, medium, or semi-large, equitable agricultural growth is critical. Today, agricultural performance in the country is a major cause of concern, as farming has become financially unsustainable, particularly for small, marginal, and semi-medium farmers. The study was conducted in Mahbubnagar district, Telangana, during 2020-2021 to examine the relationship between farmers\u27 profile characteristics and their occupational stress. Mahbubnagar district was purposively selected from the 31 districts in Telangana due to its high illiteracy rate and backwardness. Occupational stress was found to be more prevalent among cotton farmers, and since most farmers in Mahbubnagar grow cotton, the district was chosen for the study. Within Mahbubnagar, Midjil Mandal was specifically selected from 15 mandalas because of its limited technological advancements and the prevalence of cotton farming. Out of 28 villages, 5 were purposefully chosen for the study. Approximately 5% of farmers from each selected village were included using proportionate random sampling, resulting in a total sample size of 170 farmers. An Ex-post-facto research design was employed, and data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule tailored to the study\u27s objectives. The data were then analyzed, classified, and tabulated. Statistical tools like frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of correlation were used to interpret the findings and draw conclusions. The study found that indebtedness had a positive and significant relationship with occupational stress, while variables such as age, education, farming experience, landholding, and annual income had a negative and significant relationship with stress levels. Family size, mass media exposure, economic motivation, scientific orientation, and risk orientation were found to have no significant relationship with occupational stress among the farmers. These findings suggest the need for debt management programs and enhanced financial literacy among farmers, alongside support for educational and income-generating opportunities to reduce stress and improve financial sustainability
Structural Changes in Haryana Agriculture
No full textThe present investigation was carried out for Haryana state for the period 1970-2021. Economic growth has been defined as a structural transformation process in which the contribution of industry and services sectors increased and agriculture\u27s relative proportion of national production decreased. Statistical averages, percentages and CAGRs, were computed. Sectoral labor shares, capital formation, and sectoral output composition are the chosen metrics to evaluate structural change in the state. Agricultural performance was evaluated using key indicators of development, such as crop yields, cropping intensity, irrigation intensity, tractor density, and fertilizer consumption. Although Haryana is primarily an agricultural state, it has also seen significant growth in the industrial and service sectors. The main conclusions indicate that Haryana\u27s structural changes align with those of India\u27s national economy. However, the agricultural sector requires greater focus from policymakers to encourage the adoption of new farming innovations
Analysis of Wheat Export Performance in India
No full textWheat is a plant which is valued highly for its kernel as an edible part and an important source of carbohydrates. India ranks second position in wheat production in the world with a contribution of roughly 13.53 per cent to global wheat output (Naga Latha et. al., 2022). The study analyses the export performance of wheat and examines the trends in the growth performance of wheat in terms of area, production and productivity, export quantity and export value during 1973-2022 which is a period of 50 years. The analysis reveals that the highest compound growth rate in terms of area was 1.16 per cent, production was 4.49 per cent and productivity was 3.29 per cent respectively. The results of the study on the compound growth rates during the study periods have shown positive and increasing value which indicates high potential for the export of wheat from India. In the analysis of instability, there exists a high positive correlation between the export quantity and value of export in the overall period. Wheat area, production and productivity exhibit higher variability and instability in the overall period. Period II shows lower variability and instability, indicating increased stability. Period I exhibits moderate variability and instability. The overall period has the highest instability, suggesting unpredictable production. Instability indices show high instability at 126.97 per cent in Period I and 138.18 per cent overall, while Period II exhibits moderate instability at 101.94 per cent. Market volatility, trade policies, economic fluctuations, weather patterns and production variability contribute to these fluctuations. As of trend analysis, there is a positive and significant increase. The NPC value of wheat during the overall period was 0.051, it indicates that the commodity is not protected. NPC<1 indicates that the commodity is exportable and possesses export competitiveness and hence the hypothesis i.e. Indian wheat has better competitiveness in the International market
Research on Socio-Profile of Farmers of S.A.S. Nagar District, Punjab
No full textThe socio-economic traits of farm households in Punjab\u27s rural districts were the focus of the current study. For this objective, information was gathered from 150 farm homes from the villages of S.A.S. Nagar district, Punjab. The findings showed that the Sikh religion and General Castes comprised the majority of farm households. Most people were found to be in the 30 to 70 age range, which is the most economically active. In all farm-size categories, the sex ratio was in favour of the females. The proportion of farm households living in the joint type of family was positively associated with the farm size. Most of the persons of the marginal and small farm-size categories were illiterate and with relatively low level of education as compared to the semi-medium, medium, and large farm-size categories. The proportionate share of earners was the highest for the small farm-size category and the lowest for the semi-medium farm-size category. About 92 percent of sampled farmers owned pucca houses. The proportion of sampled farmers who owned good condition houses, bathrooms and toilets were related to the farm size. About 93% of farmers contact the local input dealers for any information needed for crop cultivation. 90 % of farmers had mobile connection. It was found that most of the farmers had an internet connection (66%) for a majority of sampled farmers in the rural areas of Punjab
Climate Risk Management among Smallholder Farmers: A Comparative Analysis of Flood-prone Alappuzha and Drought-affected Gondia in India
No full textClimate change poses significant risks to agricultural systems worldwide, particularly in developing countries where smallholder farmers have limited adaptive capacity. This study examines the socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing climate risk management practices among smallholder farmers in two contrasting regions of India: the flood-prone Alappuzha district in Kerala and the drought-affected Gondia district in Maharashtra. Using data collected from 150 rice farmers, the research analyzes economic, social, technical, and physical dimensions shaping adaptive responses. Key findings reveal significant regional disparities in adaptive strategies. Alappuzha farmers exhibit greater resilience due to higher incomes, better compensation mechanisms, and stronger community networks. Their strategies primarily involve strengthening bunds, improving drainage infrastructure, adopting flood-resistant rice varieties, and relying on formal credit for support. Conversely, Gondia farmers face lower adaptive capacity, driven by limited access to credit, inadequate compensation, and weaker institutional support. Their climate risk management approaches include drip irrigation, planting drought-resistant crop varieties, and pursuing income diversification to reduce vulnerability. Education levels, access to insurance, and the use of localized weather information also play crucial roles in shaping adaptive capacity across both regions. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to strengthen institutional support, expand educational programs, facilitate community networks, and improve access to localized weather information to enhance agricultural resilience to climate risks. These findings provide practical policy recommendations aimed at addressing region-specific challenges and leveraging local strengths to bolster adaptive capacity
Market Concentration of Branded Rice in Kerala
No full textIn Kerala rice is a staple diet. As per the information from Kalady Rice Millers’ Consortium, 40 per cent of the consumers in Kerala prefer branded rice, and out of this Kerala absorbs only 16 per cent, the rest of the branded rice is from outside states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. This study investigates the market concentration of Kerala’s branded rice market, focusing on the dominance of a few key players and its market share, pricing power, and concentration. The analysis employs four-firm concentration ratio, the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve to reveal an oligopolistic structure, where a small number of firms control a substantial portion of the market. Major players like Pavizham, Keerthi Nirmal, Periyar, Kottaram, and Jayabharath, alongside the Kalady Rice Miller’s Consortium, play a crucial role in shaping the branded rice market in Kerala. The study involved a survey conducted between November 2023 and June 2024, with a random sample of 10 non-exporters, 5 exporters, and one co-operative rice mill, selected from the 46 branded rice manufacturers in the state, predominantly from Ernakulam and Palakkad districts. The findings of the study highlighted that the branded rice market in Kerala had an oligopolistic behaviour. This research fills a gap in understanding the distribution of market power in Kerala’s rice industry and offers suggestions for fostering greater competition and inclusivity in the market
The Economics of Production and Marketing of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in Bukidnon, Philippines
No full textBukidnon, a province in Region X, is known for its high percentage of oyster mushrooms, accounting for 85.15 percent of total produce. This research aimed to determine production and marketing practices, yield per fruiting bag, marketing channels, and costs. We observed three marketing channels, and the average yield per bag was 0.18 grams per day. Variables affecting productivity included extension visits, educational attainment, culture house temperature, and substrate types. However, producers faced issues like spawn unavailability, poor development, and spoilage. The lack of government equipment support and lower prices led to many farmers stopping production, especially during the pandemic
Overcoming Challenges in Scented Geranium Cultivation, Processing, and Marketing: Study from Northern Karnataka, India
No full textMedicinal and aromatic crops play a pivotal role in the socio-cultural, economic, spiritual and health dimensions of India\u27s rural population and have become an integral part of our culture and rituals. Karnataka is a major repository of aromatic and medicinal treasures of the country. The demand for aromatic plants in India surpasses the available supply, prompting the widespread commercial cultivation of major aromatic crops in various regions. Among these, scented geranium emerges as a vital perennial aromatic, cultivated for its leaves imbued with a captivating rose fragrance. The aromatic oil of scented geranium is increasingly replacing traditional rose oil and identified as one of the top 20 essential oils traded globally. The present study aims to identify challenges in cultivation, processing and marketing aspects of scented geranium in Northern Karnataka. Considering the area and concentration of scented geranium in the state, Belagavi district is purposively selected for the study. Primary data was collected through personnel interview of randomly selected geranium growers. The major challenges faced by the farmers in the production, processing and marketing aspects of scented geranium were analysed and prioritized through Garett ranking technique. Analysis of the data revealed that in production, high cost of planting material, lack of high yielding varieties and high wage rates, high cost of inputs and sensitivity of crop to heavy rains were identified as top five constraints. Whereas, in processing, significant hurdles were high working capital requirement, high capital investment in installation distillation unit and insufficient knowledge on operation of distillation units, low oil recovery and lack of efficient processing equipment. In marketing aspects, high price fluctuation, lack of marketing information and lack of competition in the market, non-existence of local market and lack of adequate demand in nearby area were identified as major challenges in the study area. Educating farmers in nursery management and implementing mechanization techniques, particularly for harvesting, are crucial for enhancing productivity and profitability. Additionally, training on proper storage and transportation practices is essential to maintain the quality of volatile essential oils. This comprehensive strategy promotes sustainable and economically viable cultivation of scented geraniums in the region
Value Chain Analysis of Cattle Feed Market in Banaskantha District, India
No full textIndia has vast resources of livestock and poultry, which play a vital role in improving the socio-economic conditions of rural masses. Livestock sector contributed 4.90 per cent of total GVA in 2020-21. Birthal and Jha [1] has found feed scarcity as the main limiting factor to improving livestock productivity. Therefore, to increase the productivity potential of milch animals the use of commercial compound feed is inevitable as supply of feed & fodder is shortening due to shrinking pasture land in the country. The Indian feed industry is about 57 years old. India is deficient in fodder and its availability is shrinking day by day due to decrease in cultivable area and increased share in food crop production so more thrust should be directed towards compound feeds by identifying the constraints and removing them.This study focused on the effectiveness of the feed industry and the performance of the value chain when mapping the cattle feed value chain in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat state. Total of ten feed manufacturing units and 120 farmers were selected for the study. The study was based on primary data and secondary data, the primary data were collected through personal interviews with the help of a structured survey schedule. Secondary data on livestock population were collected through the livestock census, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. A multi stage random sampling method was adopted as an appropriate sampling procedure for the study. Banaskantha district was purposely selected for the study as Banaskantha district has highest livestock population in overall Gujarat State. Four talukas from Banaskantha district were selected randomly and feed manufacturing units were selected by snowball sampling method. From each taluka, five villages were selected randomly. From each village, six farmers were selected randomly. The study focused on buying behavior of farmers regarding cattle feed purchase and to estimate demand for concentrated feed requirements for the future in Banaskantha district. The study found that among the eight explanatory (independent) variables, five variables viz., livestock population, farm size, feed price, income from livestock, total feed fed per day were found to be significantly associated with expenditure of cattle feed price per animal per month and other variables such as average age of the animal, technology adoption and distance from buying location were statistically non-significant. The required feed demand for future livestock populations in Banaskantha district are 3651480 metric tonnes, 4487461 metric tonnes, 5514543 metric tonnes, 6774097 metric tonnes and 8315523 metric tonnes for the year 2024, 2029,2034, 2039 and 2044 respectively
Synergies and Trade-Offs of Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices and Mediating Factors in Enhancing Maize Yields among Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania\u27s Semi-Arid Regions
No full textThe impact of climate change on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa has been significant in recent years, particularly affecting smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions in Tanzania. Although research on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices has grown, the synergies and potential trade-offs from such practices among smallholder farmers in Tanzania\u27s semi-arid regions have received little attention. To address this, 299 households were interviewed and path analysis was used to analyze the data collected. Correlations between CSA practices used in maize farming in semi-arid areas of Tanzania were analysed as well as direct and indirect effects of access to credit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assistance, Membership in organisations, distance to market and CSA training on increasing maize yields. The results showed that access to credit, assistance from NGOs, membership in an organization, distance to market, and CSA training act as mediating factors between CSA practices and an increase in maize yield. The study found that improved varieties were positively correlated with changes in planting date, use of animal manure, minimum tillage, intercropping, mixed cropping, and livestock diversification (P<0.05).
The study emphasizes the importance of implementing these practices together to generate a positive impact and increase smallholder farmers\u27 crop yields and resilience to climate change in semi-arid regions. The study recommends that in order to increase synergies and minimize trade-offs between climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices the government and non-governmental organizations strengthen the extension system, promote access to CSA training, and make affordable credit available through financial organizations