MSc

The present study, titled “Functional Dynamics and Critical Appraisal of
Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) in Kerala,” was conducted during
2023-24. The study had specific objectives: to assess the status and
implementation of BPKP within the Agro-Ecological Units (AEUs) of Kerala,
estimate crop production and resource use efficiency for selected crops, and
analyze the constraints related to BPKP.
The study was conducted in the AEU-8 (Nemom and Neyyattinkara blocks),
as well as the AEU-17 (Devikulam block). Primary data were gathered from
farmers through a pre-tested interview schedule. Respondent farmers were selected
using the purposive sampling method. The total sample size comprised of 200
participants, consisting 100 BPKP farmers and 100 control farmers.
This study examined the status and implementation of the BPKP among the
banana and cabbage farmers in AEU-8 & AEU-17 in Kerala respectively,
comparing them to farmers engaged in conventional farming practices. In AEU-8,
58 per cent of BPKP banana farmers cultivated a single crop in their fields. A
noteworthy 42 per cent relied on natural farming (NF) inputs, such as
Panchagavya and fish amino acids, for pest and disease control. However, despite
using these inputs, 58 percent of the farmers reported a high incidence of disease
after adopting NF practices. Additionally, 52 per cent of respondents participated
in capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing their NF skills. Financial
assistance for the implementation of BPKP was received by 54 percent of farmers
at least once. Notably, none of the BPKP farmers applied chemical fertilizers,
adhering strictly to NF principles.
Sentiment analysis revealed an overall positive perception of the BPKP among
farmers following BPKP in AEU-8, with the term "natural" being the most
frequently associated word in the word cloud analysis. In contrast, control banana
farmers expressed predominantly negative sentiments towards the BPKP, with
"natural" also emerging as the most repeated word in their word cloud analysis.
Among control farmers, 60 per cent relied on single plant protection chemicals to
manage pests and diseases. Seventy-five percent farmers made medium
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investments in the purchase of manures, fertilizers, and pesticides. Additionally,
half of these farmers utilized three or more types of organic manure on their fields,
and 50 per cent adopted a double-cropping system. Notably, none of the control
farmers were cultivating indigenous crop varieties.
In AEU-17, 50 percent of BPKP farmers involved in cabbage cultivation
practiced dual cropping in their fields. A majority of these farmers (62%) utilized
Panchagavya for pest and disease management. Following the adoption of NF
practices, 64 percent of BPKP cabbage respondents reported significant crop
growth. Additionally, 42 per cent of the farmers participated in capacity-building
training sessions related to NF. Sixty-two percent of the farmers received
financial assistance twice to implement BPKP practices. Notably, none of the
BPKP farmers employed chemical fertilizers, adhering strictly to NF methods.
Sentiment analysis revealed an overall positive perception of the BPKP, with the
term "natural" being the most frequently mentioned word in the word cloud
analysis. In contrast, control farmers undertaking cabbage cultivation expressed
predominantly negative sentiments regarding the BPKP program, with "BPKP"
being the most repeated term in their sentiment analysis. Fifty-two per cent of these
farmers relied on two plant protection chemicals for managing pests and diseases.
A significant portion of respondents invested a medium amount in procuring
manures, fertilizers, and pesticides, with more than half using only one type of
organic manures in their fields. Furthermore, 54 per cent of farmers adopted a
multi-cropping system, while none of the control farmers cultivated indigenous
crop varieties.
The costs and returns associated with banana and cabbage, the major crops in
this study, were calculated for both BPKP farmers and control farmers. The costs
and returns for banana were higher among control farmers compared to BPKP
farmers, and similarly, the costs and returns for cabbage were also greater for
control farmers than for BPKP farmers.

A Cobb-Douglas production function was used to assess banana and cabbage
production among both BPKP farmers and control farmers, with a focus on resource
use efficiency. In banana production, organic manure was significant for BPKP
farmers, while for control farmers, both planting materials and organic manures were
significant. In cabbage production, the number of irrigations was significant for
BPKP farmers, while the cultivated area (in ha) was significant for control farmers.
A marginal productivity analysis, designed to evaluate allocative efficiency,
revealed that organic manures for banana were overutilized by both BPKP and
control farmers, while planting materials were found to be underutilized by control
farmers. For cabbage, the number of irrigations was underutilized by BPKP farmers,
whereas the area (ha) was underutilized by control farmers.
While practicing NF, the constraints faced by farmers are substantial. In
AEU-8, the primary constraint reported by the majority of respondents was the lack
of price differentiation between vegetables cultivated through natural and chemical
methods. The second major constraint was the low market price for the produce,
which limited profitability. In AEU-17, the main constraint reported was the
intrusion of wild animals, which caused significant crop damage and, in some cases,
complete losses. The second constraint was once again the low market price for
produce, while the third was the lack of price differentiation between naturally
grown horticultural crops and those produced using chemical inputs. These
challenges highlight the need for improved market support and wildlife management
strategies to enhance the viability of NF practices in both regions.
The BPKP scheme under study has shown partial success. Resource use
efficiency is lower in chemical farming due to the overuse of organic manure. The
main challenge for BPKP farmers is the low price for produce, even though it is
chemical-free. To improve the program, it is essential to provide low-cost inputs and
improve plant protection strategies, ensuring better economic viability for the farmers
adopting BPKP practices.