Sequential analysis of constraints in increasing production of rice and coconut in Kerala

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the production constraints of rice and coconut and measuring the validity of identified constraints in selected production centres. The solutions to the identified constraints were also collected and their feasibility rated in order to formulate appropriate development strategies for increasing production of rice and coconut in Kerala. The study was conducted in all the NARP regions of the State, namely, Southern, Central, Northern, High Range and Problem Regions. The respondents of the study comprised of 160 farmers each for the identification and validation of constraints and 100 Research Workers, 100 Extension Workers and 57 Input Agencies for the indentification of constraints. To identify the production constraints of rice and coconut, Delphi technique – the methodology for elicitation of expert opinion – was used. Date from the farmers were collected using pre-tested structured interview schedules. Conversion of lands, drought and lack of irrigation were the major production constraints of rice ranked according to their importance in the Southern Region while nonavailability of FYM, low profitability and high cost of production were the constraints ranked high in the Central Region. High difficulty in cultivation, nonavailability of FYM and fragmentation were the production constraints of rice ranked high in the Northern Region. High wage rate of agricultural labour, indebtedness and high cost of production ranked high in the High Range Region. In the Problem Region, floods, low profitability and high cost of FYM were the high ranked production constraints of rice. In the case of coconut, lack of irrigation, drought and high wage rte of agricultural labour were the high ranking production constraints in the southern Region while low adoption of chemical fertilizers, high cost of fertilizers and lack of irrigation ranked high in the Central Region. In the Northern Region, the high ranking constraints were low adoption of plant protection chemicals, high cost of fertilizers and low labour productivity whereas high cost of seedings, high cost of fertilizers and pests and disease incidence ranked high in the High Range Region. Root (Wilt) diseases, high wage rate of agricultural labour and high cost of plant protection chemicals were the high ranking production constraints of coconut in the Problem Region. In the Southern Region, the production constraints of rice, namely, low adoption of chemical fertilizers, lack of knowledge about chemical fertilizers,, negative attitude towards plant protection chemicals, absentee landlordism, negative attitude towards HYV, low adoption of HYV and small farm size were found to be individually significant in predicting the yield of rice. Negative attitude towards HYV, low adoption of HYV, low labour productivity and lack of irrigation were individually found to be significant in predicting the yield of rife in the Central Region. In the Northern Region, the constraints namely, high cost of chemical fertilizers, low adoption of chemical fertilizers, indebtedness, lack of credit facilities and high incidence of pests and disease were found to be individually significant in predicting the yield of rice. Low adoption of HYV, incidence of pests and diseases, high cost of chemical fertilizers, low adoption of plant progection chemicals were found to be individually significant in prediction the yield of rice in the High Range Region. In the Problem Region, the constraints, namely, low adoption of plant protection chemicals, low adoption of chemical fertilizers, floods and incidence of pests and diseases were found to be significant in predicting the yield. The production constraints of coconut individually significant in predicting the yield in the Southern Region were low adoption of chemical fertilizers, drought and lack of irrigation. In the Central Region, lack of irrigation, lack of knowledge about plant protection chemicals, low adoption of chemical fertilizers and incidence of pests and diseases were found to be individually significant in predicting the yield of coconut. In the High Range Region the constraints namely nonavailability of quality seedings, small farm size, incidence of pests and diseases were individually significant in predicting the yield while low adoption of chemical fertilizers, incidence of pests and diseases and incidence of root (wilt) disease were significant production constraints in the Problem Region. Evolving varieties suited to different agro-climatic regions, promoting group farming, popularising cultivation of green manure seeds, providing fertilizer subsidy, providing crop insurance, fixing support price for paddy were found to be the most feasible steps to be taken for increasing production of rice in Kerala. Adoption of moisture conservation practices, decentralised nursery for coconut, supply of seedlings through Krishibhavans, large scale production of hybrid coconut, scientific replanting and underplanting programme and subsidising chemical fertilizers are the steps to be undertaken to increase the production of coconut in the State. Based on the results of the study, certain important implications have been spelt out.