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2022 - 20233
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Subject: Agricultural Economics × Start date: 2022 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    Study on resource use planning for sustainability of Punjab agriculture
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Esar, Bashir Ahmad; Sachdeva, Jatinder
    The use of natural resources in Punjab agriculture, especially irrigation water is facing a crisis. A proper and sustainable plan is needed for their optimal use. Therefore, the current study has been conducted to develop alternative crop plans by incorporating technologies such as wheat sown using happy seeder (HS), direct-seeding of rice (DSR), and short-duration varieties (SDVs) of paddy. The technique of linear programming has been used to develop the optimum plans using data collected under the “Comprehensive scheme for studying the cost of cultivation of principal crops in Punjab” pertaining to the year 2018-19. The results revealed that for optimum utilization of available resources and maximizing the returns, the area under paddy, guar, and potato crops need to be reduced while the area under maize, basmati, sugarcane, cotton, moong, barley, sunflower, and peas need to be increased. By adopting the optimal plans developed with existing resource use and technologies of (HS, DSR, and SDVs) the returns can be increased by 2.52 to 8.63 per cent, along with saving in irrigation water use ranging from 4.65 to 4.96 per cent. Similarly, by adopting the optimal plans with irrigation water use restricted to 90% of its current level will increase returns by 1.6 to 9%. The optimal plans will help in increasing the use of underutilized human labour, and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers presently having much higher use than the recommended levels and reducing the cost of cultivation along with a positive impact on environment. For the optimum plans with irrigation water use restricted to 80 per cent although the returns will decline but the government may compensate the farmers for their losses from the savings on providing subsidies to supply free electricity to the farmers for extracting groundwater to irrigate their fields. Further, the subsidy money saved can be utilized to develop agricultural infrastructure and offering competitive prices for less irrigation water-requiring crops along with saving precious irrigation water to stop the downward movement of ground water level.
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    Study on Women Empowerment among Farm Households in Punjab
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Jain, Mehak; Sharma, Shalini
    Women in India are the backbone of the society and important resource in agriculture and rural economy. They make essential contributions to the agricultural development, allied, household activities and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Participation of women in agriculture varies from region to region in Punjab. So, the present study was an attempt to measure women empowerment and gender parity among farm households with specific objectives: (i) to study socio-economic profile of women respondents in selected farm households (ii) to measure empowerment of women among selected farm households (iii) to find out gender parity in selected households (iv) to identify challenges faced by women and suggest the way forward. The present study was conducted in three agro-climatic zones of Punjab state namely sub-mountainous zone, central plain zone and south-western zone. One district was randomly selected from each zone i.e. Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Ferozepur. Two blocks from each selected district and three villages from each block were selected randomly for the purpose of present investigation. From each selected block, forty households based on probability proportionate to three categories of farm household i.e. small, medium, large were selected randomly. Total sample size was of 240 farm households. The study found that one third of farm women were either illiterate or lowly educated, majority were not gainfully employed, were engaged in household chores (89.7%). The study found that still 12 per cent of respondents had no mobile phones of their own and half (50.8%) of farm women were not able to do any banking operations Also, majority (93.3%) of respondents had no ownership of land. Study disclosed edge of zone1 farm women in human resources followed by zone 2 and zone 3 but did not find significant difference amongst different farm size categories. Large farm households had better level of material resources. Zone 1 had high level of social resource followed by zone 2 and zone 3 and small farm women had an edge over the large farm women in this resource. In agency aspect too significant zonal association was found with zone 1 leading in it. Psychological wellbeing had significant association with farm size category while physical wellbeing showed zonal association. Among household challenges, patriarchal norms (2.04) was found major challenge (Rank I) while at community level farm women were deprived of legal rights (rank I) and unsupportive community ethics (rank II). Lack of capacity building avenues (rank I) was the challenge at market level. Government intervention is strongly needed especially in central and south western zone for training of farm women in alternative skills to promote their self-employment and financial security and hence their empowerment. Agency aspect of women need to be strengthened through education, inclusive cultural norms and family support
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    Infrastructure, functioning and labour scenario in regulated markets of Punjab
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Lovepreet Singh; Goyal, Mini
    Agricultural regulated markets have been playing a pivotal role in the overall economic development of a country. Therefore the present study has been designed to examine the status of infrastructure, functioning and labour scenario in the regulated markets of Punjab. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample. The study was conducted in three agro-climatic zones of Punjab during the year 2019-20 and from each zone three markets i.e. small, medium and large markets were selected. A sample of 10 farmers and 10 labourers were taken from each market. For the selection of e-NAM markets, one market was randomly selected from each zone and a sample of 20 farmers was selected from each market. The study highlighted that number of regulated markets was increased from 1980-81 to 2019-20. Consequently there was a decline in average area and number of villages severed per market which in turn ensured betterment in number of regulated markets in the state. Growth in the number of regulated markets resulted in increase in the procurement of wheat and paddy in the state. Results of infrastructure development index revealed that large markets were equipped with better infrastructure facilities. Problem of lack of space and inadequate covered sheds were the major problems faced by famers. The efficiency of the regulated markets were computed and it was found that large markets were financially and managerially more efficient due to higher income, better management of income, employees, marketed surplus and produce. Markets were not organizationally efficient on the basis of staff strength and distance traveled by farmers. Mandi labourers got total employment for 297 days during a year including 126 days in regulated markets with income of Rs 57261.34 per annum and 171 days in other than market works by earning Rs.45059.64 per annum. In Punjab, about 2.16 lakh farmers, 2288 traders and 8376 commission agent were registered with e-NAM. It was found that e-NAM markets had a positive impact on prices. The factors like availability of electronic equipment’s followed by operational holding, age were the most influential determinants to participate in e-NAM system.