Determinants of Agricultural Production Diversification among Marginal and Small Farmers of Kanyakumari and Perambalur
Y. Melba *
Department of Agricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India.
K. R. Ashok
Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, India.
A. Vidhyavathi
Department of Agricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India.
S. Kalaivani
Department of Agricultural Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India.
P. Vennila
Post Harvest Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To assess the influence of agricultural production diversity of marginal and small farmers
Study Design: Purposive Random Sampling
Place and Duration of Study: Kanyakumari and Perambalur districts in Tamil Nadu were purposefully chosen for the survey, which was conducted through primary data collection from July to August 2020.
Methodology: According to the Tamil Nadu state planning commission report 2017, Kanyakumari and Perambalur districts were chosen at random from the top five and bottom five districts of the food security index to analyze dietary diversity. The crop diversification index was calculated using the entropy index. The Tobit model is used to investigate the impact of diverse agriculture production among marginal and small farming households.
Results: The findings clearly show that, of the two districts, Perambalur has diversified more than Kanyakumari. Farmers in Perambalur district cultivate agricultural crops, whereas farmers in Kanyakumari district selected block cultivate horticultural crops, particularly plantation crops. According to the Tobit results, the number of cattle, farm size, credit available, and distance from the market all had a positive and significant influence on crop diversification. Improving female-headed household decision-making, promoting household investment and infrastructure facilities, and suggesting crop development as crop diversification measures.
Conclusion: The results conclude that farmers in Perambalur district have highly diversified cropping than Kanyakumari district.
Keywords: Agricultural production, entropy index, crop diversification index, to bit model