Sustainability of Agriculture in a North-Eastern Indian Village: Findings from a Micro- level Study

Abstract

Based on the primary data, the study was conducted in the Potsangbam village of Manipur, India. The village was selected purposively, and information from all the 683 households was collected by using a complete village census approach method with the help of a pre-tested, well-structured schedule during the year 2020-21. With an average operational holding of 0.6 acres, the data shows that majority of the households were landless and marginal farmers. Although the agricultural transformation is in the early stages, the study also revealed that the farm sector in the village is gradually transitioning from traditionally low-income farming to commercialized, driven by crop diversification and technological adoption. However, small operational holding due to land fragmentation impended the adoption of modern farming practices and reduced the economies of scale and, thus employment opportunity and farm income in the whole village economy. Comprehensive policies that emphasize improving rural infrastructures, expanding access to resources and markets, promoting sustainable farming practices and improved technologies, and providing extension and training services are required. In addition, policies that support income diversification, land consolidation, and rural development can help to tackle these issues and build a more resilient and robust farm sector in the village economy.