DYNAMICS OF FARMING SYSTEMS: A STUDY ON INCOME MAXIMIZATION IN NORTH COASTAL ANDHRA PRADESH
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Date
2021-12-07
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur
Abstract
When GoI (Government of India) announced its vision of doubling the
farmer‟s income by 2022, the focus on Farming System Approach (FSA) gained
momentum. Farming System Approach is a feasible solution and viable option
for income enhancement at farm level. The interrelated nature of components in
farming system improves the efficiency of inputs generated within the system
besides providing regular income to the farmers. Hence, the present study
entitled “Dynamics of farming systems: A study on income maximization in
north coastal Andhra Pradesh” had been conducted with the following
objectives:
1. to identify the existing farming systems and prioritize the major profitable
farming systems
2. to analyze the resource use efficiency associated with major farming
systems
3. to examine the extent of diversification in farming systems
4. to study the inter-linkages of farming systems with markets for income
enhancement and
5. to suggest appropriate policy measures for creating enabling environment
to implement profitable farming systems
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Multistage random sampling technique was used to design sampling
frame work of the study. In the first stage, the farming situations under each
district along with the mandals under each situation were identified. The mandal
with highest cultivable land under each situation followed by two villages with
highest cultivable land from each of the selected mandal were selected. Finally, a
sample of 10 cultivators from each village were selected randomly as
respondents. The primary data pertaining to farming systems was collected for
the agricultural year 2017-18.
The FS-III (Crop + Poultry) was the most profitable farming system
noticed in Srikakulam district with a profitability ratio of 1.27. In Vizianagaram
and Visakhapatnam districts, the farming system with sheep & goat (FS-IV &
FS-VI) as allied activity recorded highest PRs. The farming system with crop
components only was found least profitable in the study area.
Under the assumption of Variable Returns to Scale (VRS), the per cent of
efficient farms were more in FS-I (Crops alone) of all three districts. Majority of
farms in all major farming systems were operating at IRS (Increasing returns)
indicating that the income of these farms could be increased by increasing the
input usage as they were performing below the optimal production scale in suboptimal region. The Resource Use Efficiency (RUE) analysis revealed that the
variables like FYM, feed and veterinary medicine were showing significant
positive impact on farm income.
The Simpson‟s Diversification Index (SID) of farming systems was less
when crops combined with allied activities like poultry and sheep & goat. The
Pearson‟s correlation coefficient was negative when found the relation between
farming system diversification index and its profitability.
The Market Dependency Ratio (MDR) was lowest when ruminants were
the part of farming systems along with the cropping. The higher MDR was
observed in FS-III when poultry was an allied activity as it was completely
dependent on markets for inputs.
Labour scarcity and high cost of production among production constraints
and non remunerative price of produce, price fluctuations and high
transportation costs among marketing constraints ranked as major problems
through RPI (Response Priority Index) analysis.
The higher area under paddy and sugarcane crops decreased the total net
returns from crop components of major farming systems. Maize, blackgram and
greengram among the seasonal crop, betel leaf among annual crop, perennial
crops and sheep & goat component among non crop enterprises recorded higher
net returns.
Assured MSP to farmers, diversification towards high value crops, value
addition, compulsory inclusion of allied activity like dairy, regulated markets at
mandal level etc. could improve the income levels of farmer in the overall
farming systems analysed in the study.
Description
DYNAMICS OF FARMING SYSTEMS:
A STUDY ON INCOME
MAXIMIZATION IN NORTH
COASTAL ANDHRA PRADESH