Exploratory study on organic farming among smallholder farmers

Abstract

Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. The study was formulated with objectives to identify the components of organic farming in the selected organic homesteads, identify the marketing channels utilized by farmers and work out their marketing efficiency, analyze the biodiversity in the selected organic homesteads, explore the constraints experienced by farmer and formulate suggestions for promoting organic farming in the state. The study was conducted in Malappuram district of Kerala state. comprising of Nilambur and Wandoor blocks with a sample size of 30 organic homesteads picked out using random sampling techniques. Data were collected by using structured interview schedules and direct observation. The results revealed that components of organic farming in the selected homesteads were use of bulky organic manure, concentrated organic manure, green leaf manure, green manure crops, bio fertilizer, liquid organic manure, traps, bio control agents and organic pesticides. The study assessed the diversity of plants in organic homesteads. Nilambur block recorded the higher diversity (0.84) followed by Wandoor block (0.73). Nilambur block recorded the higher species richness (1.96) followed by Wandoor block (1.80). The major crops marketed in the study area vegetables and banana. Vegetables studied were chilli, bitter gourd, cowpea and Amaranthus. In the case of cowpea highest marketing efficiency was recorded in channel I (Producer –consumer) and lowest in channel II (Producer-retailer-consumer) ,whereas bitter gourd highest marketing efficiency was recorded in channel I (Producer – consumer) and lowest in channel II (Producer-retailer- consumer), in the case of chilli highest marketing efficiency was recorded in channel I (Producer – consumer) and lowest in channel III (Producer- Govt agency (horticorp) – consumer), In amaranthus highest marketing efficiency of was recorded in channel I (Producer – consumer) and lowest in channel II (Producer-retailer-consumer ) . In thecase of banana highest marketing efficiency was in recorded in channel I (Producer – consumer) and lowest in channel II ( Producer-retailer-consumer) . Source of income, annual income had showed higher positive correlation with biodiversity index of organic homesteads. A comparative study between the farmers from two blocks revealed that education and annual income were significantly different of these two blocks of farmers. The major constraints faced by farmers were lack of premium price for organic produce, less market price, lack of crop insurance, wild animal attack, low yield, high wages, and labour shortage and pest and disease problems. Suggestions brought forth by the study for promoting organic farming are designing implementing awareness programs for the consumers, development of model organic farms with institutional support, providing financial incentives for promoting organic farming, ensuring availability of quality organic manure at reasonable price, enhancing the supportive role in government marketing of organic produce and encouraging setting up of organic kitchen garden in homesteads, organic certification More studies on organic farming especially on the marketing aspects are needed to develop viable solutions for the challenges faced by the promoting system.