organic cotton angrau thesis summary convclusion prashanth1

8/4/2019 Organic Cotton Angrau Thesis Summary Convclusion Prashanth1

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CHAPTER V

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Organic agriculture is the oldest form of agriculture on the earth. In ancient

times the farming was not only a process of food production or source of income, but it

was essentially way of life. In India the traditional knowledge of agriculture which was

essentially organic, was nurtured and groomed by millions of farmers over several

hundred years and continued to grow systematically without any adverse impact on soil

and environment. Although the term organic farming is getting popularity in recent

times, but it was initiated in 10,000 years back when ancient farmers started cultivation

depending on natural sources only. There is brief mention of several organic inputs in

our ancient literature like Rigveda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Kautilya Arthashastra.

The concept of organic farming in cotton drop is slowly perwading into the

minds of farmers of karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.

Since no systematic study has been under taken, the present study is the

modest conscious attempt by the investigator to study The Adoption of organic

farming in cotton in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh was under taken with

the following objectives.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To study the profile characteristics of organic and conventional cotton farmers

2. To study the level of knowledge of organic and conventional cotton farmers on

organic cotton practices.

3. To find out the extent of adoption of organic cotton practices by the organic and

conventional cotton farmers.

4. To find out the relationship between profile characteristics and level of knowledge

and extent of adoption of organic cotton practices by the organic and conventional

cotton farmers.

5. To elicit the constraints and suggestions of organic and conventional cotton

farmers and suggesting a suitable extension strategy to promote organic cotton

crop.

6. To identify the success cases if any of the organic cotton farmers.


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5.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

Ex-post facto Research Design was used in the present investigation.

5.2 SAMPLING PROCEDURE

Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh was selected randomly for conducting

the research. Two mandals namely Ellanthakunta and Bejjanki were selected and from

each sampled mandal three villages were selected purposively, thus making a total of

six villages. From each selected village, ten conventional and ten organic cotton

farmers were selected randomly thus a total of 60 conventional and 60 organic cotton

cultivating farmers were constituted as a sample for the study.

5.3 VARIABLES SELECTED FOR THE STUDY

5.3.1 Dependent variables

The dependent variables selected for the study were level of knowledge,Extent

of adoption of organic cotton practices

5.3.2 Independent variables

The independent variables selected for the study were age, education, farming

experience, farm size, annual income, herd size, organic inputs utilization pattern,

training received, decision making behavior and extension contact.

5.4 COLLECTION OF DATA

A structured interview schedule was developed for the study .The data collected

through this schedule, analyzed and reputed by applying suitable statistical tests.

5. 5 SALIENT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

5.5.1 Profile Characteristics of Cotton Farmers

Majority of the organic cotton farmers were middle aged (53.33%) with

primary school education (41.66%) , medium farming experience (45.00%) having

small farm size(36.66%), medium annual income (48.33%), medium herd size

(40.00%), high organic inputs utilisation pattern (48.33%), medium level of training

received (50.00%) with medium decision making behavior (48.33%) and medium level

of extension contact (43.33%).

Majority of the conventional cotton farmers were middle aged (48.33%) with

primary school education (31.66%), medium farming experience (50.00%) having


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large farm size (41.66%), high annual income (43.33%), small herd size (51.66%), low

organic inputs utilisation pattern (53.33%), low level of training received (60.00%)

with medium decision making behavior (55.00%) and medium extension contact

(45.00 %).

5.5.2 Distribution of organic and conventional cotton farmers based on their level

of knowledge.

Majority (75.00%) of the organic cotton farmers had high level of knowledge

on organic cotton practices, whereas, it was low (43.00%) in case of conventional

cotton farmers. Further the results revealed that the significant difference was observed

between the mean level of knowledge of organic and conventional farmers about

organic practices in cotton crop. Organic cotton farmers had high level of knowledge

on conversion and certification practices and low level of knowledge on plantprotection aspects, where as conventional cotton farmers had high level of knowledge

on land preparation, biomass development, sowing and weed management and low

level of knowledge on conversion and certification practices.

5.5.3 Distribution of organic and conventional cotton farmers based on their

extent of adoption.

Majority (51.66%) of the organic cotton farmers had high extent of adoption of

organic cotton practices, whereas, it was low (56.66%) in case of conventional cottonfarmers. Further the results revealed that significant difference was observed between

the mean extent of adoption of organic and conventional farmers about organic

practices in cotton crop.

Organic cotton farmers had high extent of adoption on conversion and

certification practices, whereas the conventional cotton farmers had high extent of

adoption on land preparation, biomass development, sowing and weed management

and low level of knowledge on conversion and certification practices

5.5.4 Relationship between Selected Independent Variables and Level of

knowledge of Organic Cotton Farmers on Organic Cotton Practices

The independent variables education, annual income, herd size, organic inputs

utilization pattern, training received, decision making behavior and extension contact

were found positively and significantly related with the level of knowledge of organic

cotton farmers on organic cotton practices .


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5.5.5 Relationship between selected independent variables and level of knowledge

of conventional cotton farmers on organic cotton practices

The independent variables annual income, training received and decision making

behaviour were positively and significantly correlated with the level of knowledge of

conventional cotton farmers on organic cotton practices

5.5.6 Relationship between selected independent variables and extent of adoption

of organic cotton farmers on organic cotton practices

The independent variables education, herd size, organic inputs utilisation pattern,

training received, decision making behaviour and extension contact were positively and

significantly related with the extent of adoption of organic cotton practices of

conventional cotton farmers. Whereas farm size is negatively and significantly

correlated.

5.5.7 Relationship between selected independent variables and extent of adoption

of organic cotton practices by conventional cotton farmers

The independent variables viz. variables Training received, decision making

behaviour and extension contact were positively and significantly correlated with the

extent of adoption of organic cotton practices by the conventional cotton farmers

5.6 CONSTRAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS EXPRESSED BY THE

ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ONORGANIC COTTON FARMING AND SUGGESTING A

SUITABLE EXTENSION STRATEGY TO PROMOTE

ORGANIC COTTON CROP.

5.6.1 Constraints expressed by the organic cotton farmers on organic cotton

farming

A great majority (85.70%) of the organic cotton farmers perceived the problem of

lack of community approach for organic cotton cultivation, 85.00 per cent of farmers

faced the constraint of small herd size, seventy eight per cent of farmers faced

constraint of weak marketing system on organic cotton trade, Complex and costly

certification process for organic cotton farming (76. 35%) and 70.00 per cent of organic

recommendations not communicated in an understandable form.


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5.6.2 Constraints expressed by the conventional cotton farmers on organic

cotton farming

A great majority (82.76%) of the conventional cotton farmers perceived the

problem of complex and costly certification process for organic cotton cultivation,

80.00 per cent of farmers perceived labour intensive, lack of specific package of

practices(79.00%), low yields and not suitable for irrigated conditions(78.00%), High

incidence of pest and disease problems (77.68%), Higher weed infestation (76.00%),

Cost of cultivation is very high(73.00%), Lack of mechanisms for making aware the

farmers on organic cotton farming (68.00%) and Poor availability of organic

inputs(45.00%).

5.6.3 Suggestions expressed by the organic cotton farmers for promotion of

organic farming in cotton crop

The major suggestions offered by organic cotton respondents to overcome the

listed problems were more awareness may be created among the farmers on skilful

handling of various methods of non chemical pest control under organic farming,

followed by more financial credit may be lended to the organic cotton farmers with

reasonable interest, Bio pesticides and bio fertilisers, pheromone traps and light traps

should be available in time for effective management of pest population and sufficient

number of training programmes should be organised on rouging, weed control, post

harvest handling, (harvesting, grading, standardisation etc) other market related aspects

to build the confidence of farmers on organic farming in cotton crop.

5.6.4 Suggestions expressed by the conventional cotton farmers on organic

farming in cotton crop

The major suggestions expressed by the conventional cotton farmers on organic

cotton farming are herd size of farmers should be improved through government

support a cotton variety which is tolerant to sucking pests should be developed, market

intelligence of organic cotton marketing should be strengthened Standardisation of

organic cotton practices by research scientists, cost of cultivation should be reduced by

providing more incentives and subsidies to the farmers, higher price should be fixed for

organic cotton to get more.


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5.6.5 Developing a suitable strategy to promote organic cotton crop

The main interventions as a part of strategy to promote the organic cotton crop are the

famers should understand and implement the spirit of collective approach and

cooperative organic farming in cotton crop, a coordinated mechanism should be

designed by the administrators among the public, private and N.G.O s to promote

organic farming in cotton crop, a variety alternative to Bt. cotton which can tolerate

sucking pests and adverse weather conditions may be evolved by researchers and a

transparent, structured and regulated marketing system should be developed by the

marketing department for marketing the organic cotton produce.

5.7 IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

1. More number of agricultural information materials (farm literature) should be

published by the department of agriculture in the form of leaflets, pamphlets,

simple booklets on organic aspects of cotton farming as good size of

respondents had formal education .

2. Majority of the organic cotton respondents had medium age, this indicates that

the government should encourage the youth to take up farming as their

profession in general and organic farming in particular.

3. Majority of the organic cotton respondents were habituated to apply the organic

inputs in their cotton cultivation. In this endeavor the administrators should

thought of keeping these inputs readily available in terms of quantity and

quality at farmers level. In contrast to this the utility of organic inputs by the

conventional cotton farmers is very less. Hence awareness may be created

among these farmers by the officials of DOA on the benefits and role of organic

inputs in improving the soil fertility, quality of produce and maintaining the

ecological balance.

4. The training received by the organic and conventional cotton farmers are

medium and low respectively. In order to update the knowledge level of these 2

categories of famers and also to increase the rate of adoption of organic farming

practices, the public, private and non governmental organizations should

organize more need based location specific and specialized training

programmes to the cotton farmers.


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5. The extension contacts of both the organic and conventional cotton farmers are

medium. Hence public service extension personnel especially the officials of

DOA in the ranks A.E.O., A.O., and A.D.A should be accessible to the farmers

and provide round the clock guidance to the farmers.

6. The lowest rank attributed by the organic cotton respondents on plant protection

indicates that they dont have sufficient knowledge on these aspects. Hence, the

scientists of agricultural university, officials of DOA and private personnel

should bestow special attention on evaluating new ways and means to control

the pests and diseases and refining the existing integrated pest management

practices.

7.The least adoption of harvesting and post harvest management practices showsthat there is every need to educate the organic cotton growers by the officials of

department of marketing and agriculture on the importance and value of post

harvest practices in enhancing the price of the cotton produce at local, national

and international markets.

8. The conventional cotton farmers had less knowledge and poor adoption of

conversion and certification practices. The first step to bring the cotton farmers

into organic farming is orienting them on conversion and certification

requirements of organic farming. Hence, the organizations concerned with the

promotion of organic farming in cotton cultivation should focus on enlightening

the farmers to understand and apply the conversion and certification

requirements.

9. Majority of the respondents felt that the process /procedure followed to certify

the quality of organic cotton produce is very complex and expensive. Hence, the

officials of APEDA and other recognized certification agencies should cut short

the procedure and design a participative group mechanism.

10.The marketing system as expressed by the respondents to market the organic

cotton produce is unstructured, irregular and lot of interventions by middle men.

Hence, the department of marketing should come out with a structured, pool

proof, transport and well regulated marketing system to fetch good

remunerative price for the organic cotton produce.


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11.The study revealed that, community approach is lacking among the respondents

in organic cotton cultivation. In order to encourage the collective and

cooperative farming among the cotton farmers. The government should design

schemes to lend financial credit with less rate of interest to the groups formed to

take up organic farming collectively with the additional benefit of creating

development fund for the community and insurance coverage.

5.8 POINTS SUGGESTED FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

1. The present study is confined to only one district of the Telangana region of

Andhra Pradesh state. A study may be taken up on organic farming in cotton crop

selecting the respondents from all the districts of the region.

2. The present investigation has covered ten profile characteristics of therespondents, few more variables may be added in future studies to un earth the

comprehensive profile of the respondents

3. Case studies may be taken up to critically analyse the various practices involved in

organic cotton farming

4. SWOT analysis may be conducted on organic cotton farming to come out with the

indicators which can facilitate to design policies for further promotion of organic

cotton farming

5. A separate study may be taken up exclusively focussing on analysis of the export

oriented cotton crop in organic farming

6. A comparative study on land holding wise analysis of organic cotton farming may

be taken up to come out with the scenario of organic farming on each land

holding.

organic cotton angrau thesis summary convclusion prashanth1

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