MSc

The present study entitled “Livelihood generation through agriculture among
Self Help Groups - An economic analysis” was carried out in the Department of
Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2019-22
to study the agricultural livelihood of SHGs and income generation by them through
production and marketing of the crops cultivated. The economics of different crops
cultivated by the group farmers were analyzed in the study. The socio-economic
characteristics of farmers were also studied during the time period. An attempt was
also made to identify the constraints faced by farmers in the study area.
The socio-economic characteristics of the farmers were studied based
on age, gender, education, family size, farming experience, caste, occupation, land
holding size and tenancy status. The analysis showed that majority of the respondents
fell under the age group 45-60 years(57%). The analysis of educational status of the
farmers revealed that majority of the respondent farmers had completed their high
school. The average family size was found to be 4.18. Majority of the respondents
were having 11-20 years of experience. The percentage of sample farmers who chose
agriculture as their main occupation was higher nearly 90% and depends agriculture
as their primary source of income. Majority of the sample farmers (95%) were
cultivating in leased land. Most of members belong to OBC category(57%) followed
by general category(35%).
The economics of cultivation of respondents for three crops namely banana,
bittergourd and cowpea were analyzed. The per hectare cost of cultivation of all the
crops at cost C2 was found to ₹.458766.39, ₹ 164060.84 and ₹ 433198.93 for banana,
bitter gourd and cowpea respectively. The income measures were also estimated for
the group. Net returns from banana, bittergourd and cowpea were estimated to be ₹
25940.65, ₹ 26505.56 and ₹ 117528.5 respectively.
III
The resource use efficiency of banana cultivation revealed that area, seed,
manures, plant protection chemicals and family labour were significantly contributing
to the yield of group farmers for banana and shows decreasing returns to scale. The
resource use efficiency of bitter gourd cultivation shows that area and soil ameleorent
had a positive significant impact on yield and manures are negatively significant.
Similarly the resource use efficiency of cowpea cultivation revealed that manures
plant protection chemical and quantity of family labour had a positive significant
impact on yield. The ∑bi values of banana shows decreasing returns to scale. But for
bitter gourd and cowpea there are increasing returns to scale. The marginal
productivity analysis of banana shows that majority of the resources were under
utilized. For bitter gourd most of the resources were over utilized showing increasing
returns to scale. For cowpea fertilizers and family labour were over utilized.
Three marketing channels were identified for banana and two for vegetables
in the study area. Most of the farming groups preferred to sell their produce directly to
the consumers through the fairs (80%). The farmers share in consumer rupee were
found to be about 60 per cent for both banana and cow pea and nearly 70 per cent for
bitter gourd in channel 2 ( Producer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer). Price spread was
more in channel 3(Producer-wholesaler—processor-retailer-consumer) for banana and
less in channel 1(producer-consumer) for all the crops. The marketing efficiency was
also high in channel 1 for all the three crops. The most severe constraints faced by
most of the JLGs in the study area were attack of wild animals followed by price
fluctuation with a garrets score of 72.45 followed by wide price fluctuations(68.75).
The entry of wild animal into the field can be prevented by electric fencing.
The farmers may find difficult to afford the electrical fencing. Proper handholding
facilities should be provided by the concerned authorities to overcome the financial
problem faced by the farmers. It is difficult for farmers to find proper marketing
facilities and are forced to sell their produce at local market via middleman which
reduces their income significantly. The government should focus on providing
marketing facilities and branding of products so that it fetches more prices. Effective
trainings can also be conducted through krishi bhavans or Kudumbasree for farmers
to make them well acquainted with the modern cultivation practices.