Analysis of the management for sustainable agriculture by the farmers of Kerala

Abstract

The study was conducted with the main objectives of analyzing the concept and dimensions of sustainable agriculture and the extent of knowledge, attitude and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by the farmers of Kerala and also the factors affecting them. The study was undertaken in Thrissur District of Kerala State covering 270 farmers selected using multi – stage random sampling procedure. Besides farmers, 25 agricultural scientists, 25 agricultural extension personnel and 25 progressive farmers were also selected to analyse the perception about the concept and dimensions of sustainable agriculture. The dependent variables selected for the study were knowledge about sustainable agriculture, attitude towards sustainable agriculture and extent of adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Fifteen independent variables were selected in relation to the objectives and based on review of literature and pilot study. Correlation analysis multiple regression analysis, step down regression analysis, and path analysis were employed for data analysis and interpretation. It was deducted from the study that a farming system can be called sustainable when it meets the product demand for which it is intended, can maintain the productivity without depleting the natural resource base, is not harmful to the environment, is economically viable, suited to the local conditions in all aspects and can be expanded without any deleterious effects in case of increased future demand. Six dimensions were identified as important for sustainable agriculture and they were resource use efficiency, environmental soundness, economic viability, technological appropriateness, economic feasibility and local adaptability. Content analysis of the various schemes implemented by the three development departments of the State revealed that the extent of inclusion of the components of sustainable agriculture in the development programmes is only less than 25 per cent. Majority of the respondents were in the medium category with respect to knowledge, attitude and extent of adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Education, income from agriculture, exposure to interpersonal sources, perception about availability of sustainable agricultural techniques, perception about price of inputs and extension contact were found significant in predicting the variation in knowledge of farmers about sustainable agriculture. Exposure to interpersonal sources, perception about availability of sustainable agricultural techniques and perception about price of agricultural produce had significant contribution towards the variation in attitude of farmers towards sustainable agriculture. Farming experience, income from agriculture, exposure to interpersonal sources, perception about availability of sustainable agricultural techniques and extension contact were found to have significant contribution towards the extent of adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by the farmers. Apprehension about fall in profit margin, high cost of labour, lack of information about sustainable agricultural practices, acute shortage in the availability of organic inputs, shortage in labour availability and lack of easy availability of many of the sustainable agricultural practices were the major constraints in adoption of sustainable agricultural practices as expressed by farmers.