Exploring Microeconomic Dynamics and Challenges in Vegetable-Based Farming System

Abstract

Horticulture based farming could be one of the potential sources to increase the income of farmers and employment generation in agrarian agriculture, as well as meeting the demand for healthy foods with changing consumption habit of the growing population. Therefore, during 2020-21, present study was conducted in Nagaon district of Assam with a sample size of 100 farmers using multistage random sampling where pretested schedule was used by PRA and interview method to examine the status, income, employment, and problems associated with horticulture-based farming system. Arecanut and coconut are found to be the common crops grown by all the selected farmers and the highest net return of Rs.298480 per ha from Vegetables+ Livestock component+ Spices +Coconut/Arecanut farming system out of the 6 selected farming systems. The labour employment was highest in Rice +Vegetables +Toria +Fishery+ Coconut/Arecanut farming system. In order to prioritize the problem, Pareto analysis is done and it has been found that animal menace and pest and disease are the major production problems causing (› 80 %) out of total 10 production problems. Marketing problems like processing, assembling and storage facility are major problems causing (› 80 % problems) among the sample farmers. To deal with the problems these farmers should be given proper training on management of animal and pest menace, proper storage facilities and post-harvest management. This may be the best strategy to address the yield loss occurs due to spoilage.