ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF NATURAL FARMING IN BILASPUR DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2023-09-30
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
For the present study entitled “Economic Analysis of Natural Farming in Bilaspur District of
Himachal Pradesh” a sample of 100 farmers practicing natural farming was selected from Bilaspur Sadar and
Ghumarwin develpomental blocks using multistage random sampling technique. The study revealed that literacy
rate was 94.44 per cent in males and 83.29 per cent in females whereas literacy index was 2.91 in males and
2.75 in females indicating that majority of farmers were educated but quality of education was poor. The
average land holding was 1.15 ha out of which area under natural farming was 0.54 ha. Under natural farming
major crop combinations adopted by farmers in Kharif season were Cereal-Vegetable-Pulse (0.22ha) followed
by Cereal-Vegetables (0.10 ha), Vegetables (0.08 ha), Cereal-Vegetable-Oilseed crop (0.07 ha), and Cereal-
Pulses (0.07 ha). In Rabi season, Cereal-Pulses (0.14 ha) followed by Cereal-Vegetables (0.11 ha), Cereal-
Vegetable-Oilseed crop (0.10ha), Vegetables (0.05 ha), and Cereal-Vegetable-Pulse (0.04ha). The cost of
cultivation under natural farming for Cereal-Vegetable-Pulse, Cereal-Vegetable-Oilseed crop, Cereal-Pulses,
Cereal-Vegetables and Vegetables was Rs. 50,632.88/ha, Rs. 51,862.59/ha, 44,493.13/ha, 51,723.61/ha and
Rs.53,110.65/ha in Kharif season and Rs. 52,880.79/ha, Rs. 51,811.02/ha, Rs. 46,889.45/ha, Rs. 45,028.03/ha
and Rs. 47,374.74/ha in Rabi season, respectively. Yield under natural farming system is more in all crop
combinations except Vegetables in both cropping seasons and in Cereal-Vegetable-Oil seed crop in Rabi season.
The percentage increase in yield under natural farming over conventional farming system varied from 5.12 per
cent to 15.81 per cent in Kharif season and 1.09 per cent to 4.08 per cent in Rabi season. The net returns were
more in all crop combinations under natural farming as compared to conventional farming. The percentage
increase in relative economic efficiency under natural farming over conventional farming ranged from 10.78 to
56.34 per cent in Kharif season and to 0.05 to 73.23 per cent in Rabi season. The output-input ratio was also
higher under natural farming as compared to conventional farming system. The complete SPNF model was
adopted by 54 per cent of the sampled farmers. Increased soil fertility, reduced pest attack, health benefits and
increased net returns were the factors responsible for the adoption of natural farming. Non remunerative prices
for the produce followed by non availability of specialized market, high wage rates, and labour intensive
farming were the major problems reported by the farmers.