Social cost benefit analysis in vegetable production programmes in Kerala through praticipatory approach

Abstract

The present study 'Social Cost Benefit Analysis in Vegetable Production Programmes in Kerala through participatory approach' was aimed to analyse the Social costs and Social benefits of vegetable production programmes with special reference to KHDP and IVDP implemented through SHGs and to suggest a strategy for effective SCBA in Agricultural Development Programme to be implemented under people's plan. In; ~ line with the objectives of the study, three categories of respondents viz. farmers, scientists and extension experts were included in the study. To select farmers, multistage random sampling procedure was used. The study was conduc~d in three districts viz Thiruvananthapuram district from southern zone, Thrissur district from central zone and Malappuram district from Northern zone. Six taluks from three districts (two taluks from each district), twelve panchayats from six taluks (two panchayat from each taluk), and from each panchayat one SHG under KHDP and one SHG under IVDP were selected, thus constituting a total of 24 SHGs. From each SHG fifteen farmers were selected. Thus the total number of farmers selected was 360. Secondly, ten scientists, ten extension experts and ten progressive farmers each who are actively associated with the vegetable production programmes were randomly selected to delineate the dimensions of social cost and social benefit. Thus, totally 420 respondents were included in the study. The data were collected using a well-structured pre-tested interview schedule. Statistical techniques such as mean, percentage analysis, correlation, Principal Component Analysis and '1' test were used to analyse the data.

Six dimensions of social cost VIZ. perishability, conversion of paddy land, displacement of agricultural labourers, exploitation by middlemen, time constraint and involvement at the cost of education and eight dimensions of social benefit viz. family labour utilization, increased living standard, self confidence, dignity of farmers, equity, satisfaction, sociability and knowledge in vegetable cultivation were delineated using Nominal Group Technique and Policy Delphi Technique and these dimensions formed the dependent variables of the study. Dimensions, exploitation by middlemen, displacement of agricultural labourers and time constraint among social costs and dignity of farmers, sociability, satisfaction and self confidence among social benefits contributed higher magnitude of variation. Among the selected three districts, Thrissur district had the maximum Benefit Cost ratio in case of KHDP as well as IVDP. Malappuram district had the maximum percentage of respondents who had experienced maximum social costs and least social benefits where as Thrissur district has the maximum percentage of respondents who had experiencel.maximum social benefits and least social costs. The study also revealed that the two group members (KHDP and IVDP) significantly differ with respect to independent variables namely experience in commercial vegetable production, risk orientation, management orientation, market perception, extension orientation, group cohesion, credit orientation and lack of marketing and storage facilities, dimensions of social cost such as conversion of paddy land, exploitation by middlemen and dimensions of social benefit viz. increased living standard, equity and knowledge III vegetable production. Based on the results of the study, a strategy IS suggested for effective SCBA in ADP to be implemented under people's plan.