Sustainability of diversified farms in Tambiraparani river command area, Southern India
2001
R. K. Theodore | D. Rajasekar | G. Selvaraj | D. Jawahar
As a result of the expansion of irrigation and the consequent undesirable environmental impacts, a micro-level study was undertaken in one of the important river irrigation systems of Southern India, the Tambiraparani River command area. Considering the need to foster greater environmental sustainability and still meet the economic demands of small producers, the objective of the study was to assess and compare the sustainability of diversified and non-diversified rice-based farming systems under assured irrigation.<B>Research findings</B>the sustainability of diversified farms was found to be significantly higher than non-diversified farms (regardless of farm size) indicating the importance of dairy enterprise as an allied sector activity in the farming systemthe economic viability of a farm is determined by the number of agricultural activities it possesses (i.e. the number of different crops and livestock)<B>Policy Conclusions</B>the change in food consumption patterns, growing population, rapid urbanisation, rise in unemployment, need for stability in economic growth and liberalised policy measures at present are reasons in favour of farm diversificationdairy is a suitable allied activity for small-scale producers, to augment their income and also to promote ecological soundness of farms along the river tractthe marginal farmers who form the most vulnerable group in the command area require the maximum extension support in order to improve their socio-economic status from subsistence farming[Author]
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]