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.

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

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 plant protection 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 cotton farmers. 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 .

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 ON ORGANIC SUITABLE COTTON FARMING AND SUGGESTING TO A EXTENSION STRATEGY 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.

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 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. Poor availability of organic

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.

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 shows

that 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.

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 the respondents, 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.