ECONOMICS OF FARMING SYSTEMS IN CHAMBA DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-01-07
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CSKHPKV, Palampur
Abstract
An attempt has been made in the present study to study the economics of different farming systems in
Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.Chamba district is listed as one of the backward districts in the
baseline ranking of transformation of aspirational districts by NITI Aayog. In Chamba district, about
95.70 per cent of cropped area is rainfed. Thus, farming system approach is seen as a potent means of
raising and stabilizing productivity and profitability levels in the rainfed agriculture. Stratified two
stage random sampling technique was employed for selecting the sample households. The study was
based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from 160 sample households.
Further, the data were analysed by employing appropriate statistical tools in commensuration with the
objectives of the study. Linear programming was employed to develop the optimum farm plans for the
study area. Income approach was used for the identification of farming systems. Four farming systems
were identified in the study area; cereals based farming system (FS-I), vegetables based farming system
(FS-II), livestock based farming system (FS-III) and fruits based farming system (FS-IV). The results
indicated that with respect to the resource use pattern in different crop groups, the negative gap was
observed in existing seed use pattern for various crops ranging from 19.63 to 236.65 per cent in FS-I,
8.17 to 170.90 per cent in FS-II, 0.05 to 312.50 per cent in FS-III and 2.67 to 108.66 per cent in FS-IV.
This indicated that growers were using very high seed rate on their farms. In case of fertilisers
application positive gap was observed ranging from 20 to 100 per cent in FS-I, 20.06 to 89.75 per cent
in FS-II, 50.10 to 100 per cent in FS-III, 70.32 to 100 per cent in FS-IV. The gap indicated that farmers
were using very less fertilisers as compared to recommend doses. Productivity related to different farm
enterprises was found to be low as compared to optimum yield.In the optimum plan of FS-I, Returns to
Fixed Farm Resources (RFFR) were increased by ₹ 98,637 with borrowing capital limit of ₹11, 583
and labour employment was found to be 571.31 man days. In FS-II, RFFR were increased by ₹ 89,711
with borrowing capital limit of ₹ 4,263 and labour employment was found to be 558.40 man days. In
FS-III, RFFR were increased by ₹ 1,42,471 having borrowing limit of ₹ 51,281 and labour employment
was found to be1140.08 man days. In the optimum production plan of fruits based farming system (FSIV),
the RFFR were increased by ₹ 80394 having borrowing capital limit of ₹ 6561 and labour
employment was found to be 523.50 man days. Further, fragmentation of land holdings, lack of cold
storage facilities, monkeys, stray animals and wild animals menace were found as major problems in
the study area. The area was suitable for diversification towards cash crops through the utilization of
created irrigation potential. In the study area, the application of fertilisers was very less as compared to
the recommended doses. So, there was a great scope for organic farming in the study area.
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