Determinants and Constraints of Natural Farming Adoption among Arecanut Growers in Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Natural Farming (NF) is increasingly promoted as a low-input agro-ecological approach for reducing cultivation costs and improving sustainability in Indian agriculture. However, empirical evidence on its adoption in perennial plantation crops remains limited. This study examined the factors associated with the adoption of Natural Farming and the constraints faced by arecanut farmers in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. Primary data were collected during the agricultural year 2022–23 from 60 arecanut growers selected from Tarikere and Chikkamagaluru taluks. A binary logit model was used to analyse the factors associated with Natural Farming adoption, while marginal effects were estimated to interpret changes in adoption probability. Garrett’s ranking technique was employed to identify and prioritize major constraints. The results indicate that adoption of Natural Farming was more strongly associated with farmers’ perceived agronomic and economic benefits than with socio-demographic characteristics. Reduced pest attack, improved soil quality and reduced cost of cultivation were positive and statistically significant factors associated with adoption. Marginal effects showed that reduced pest attack had the largest positive association with adoption probability, followed by improved soil quality and reduced cultivation cost. Most socio-demographic variables were not statistically significant, although education showed a weak positive association with adoption. Constraint analysis revealed that labour scarcity, limited availability of desi livestock and raw materials, absence of dedicated market channels, lack of Natural Farming -specific certification, inadequate price assurance and weak technology transfer were major barriers to adoption. The findings suggest that wider adoption of Natural Farming in arecanut cultivation requires crop-specific extension support, standardized packages of practices, credible certification mechanisms and stronger market linkages. Given the localized and cross-sectional nature of the study, the findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than broadly generalizable.