Assessment of Agricultural Activities and Market for Local Crops under Changing Climate Conditions in Gujarat


Published On: 2020-09-07 20:15:50

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Author: Dhamsaniya Priyaben Paragbhai and Ritambhara Singh*

Author Address: nternational Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388110 (Gujarat)

Keywords: Climate change, climate resistant crops, marketing, tribal area.

JEL Codes: Q13, Q54.


Abstract

Agriculture was found as the main source of income in the study area. Mono cropping was mainly practised and the main crops were maize, tur and cotton. Farmers believed that the climate is changing, and affecting agriculture as well. The analysis revealed that the pre-monsoon rainfall had decreased significantly. The month of March showed a highly significant increasing trend in maximum temperature, while April showed a significant increasing trend in minimum temperature. Around half of the sample respondents showed interest in taking new crops suitable under changing climate conditions. Some of the farmers were not interested in diversification because of their small land holding size and their interest in practising subsistence farming. The adoption of climate smart agricultural practices was relatively low as against awareness. The alternate crops that emerged after focus group discussions, and also as per the suitability of the region were found to be pearl millet, sorghum, finger millet, Kodo millet, GM crops (biotic resistant and abiotic stress-tolerant) and pulses. For these alternate crops, the study suggested mainly five types of marketing channels, including farmer producer company, e-NAM, and online marketing. It was suggested that farmers should be trained to adopt diversification to enhance their income and to combat the challenges of climate change. The diversification and adaptability of alternate crops in changing climate scenario will also help farmers secure their livelihood. The Government should also intervene through appropriate policy measures to make millet production viable by their assured procurement, and distribution through PDS. This will help in addressing food and nutritional security in the arena of climate change.


Description

Indian Journal of Economics and Development
Volume 15 No. 3, 2019, 351-359
DOI: 10.5958/2322-0430.2019.00045.3
Indexed in Clarivate Analytics (ESCI) of WoS

Dhamsaniya Priyaben Paragbhai and Ritambhara Singh*
International Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388110 (Gujarat)
*Corresponding author’s email: ritambhara.singh@gmail.com