Pramod Kumar Joshi

Farmers’ Preferences for Climate-Smart Agriculture: An Assessment in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

This study was undertaken to assess farmers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for various climate-smart interventions in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The research outputs will be helpful in integrating farmers’ choices with government programs in the selected regions. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) was selected because it is highly vulnerable to climate change, which may adversely affect the sustainability of the rice-wheat production system and the food security of the region. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and improve the efficiency of the rice-wheat-based production system. CSA requires a complete package of practices to achieve the desired objectives, but adoption is largely dependent on farmers’ preferences and their capacity and WTP.

Innovations in financing of agri-food value chains in China and India: Lessons and policies for inclusive financing

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to synthesize lessons from the agricultural value chain models and their associated financing mechanisms in China and India as to provide policy recommendations on how best to facilitate development of efficient and inclusive value chains. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper builds on a review of the existing literature on agricultural value chains and their financing mechanisms, and draws lessons from it for strengthening interface between product and financial markets in order to enable smallholders capture benefits of the value addition. Findings - – From the comparative review of value chain financing mechanisms and current policy contexts the authors find dominance of internal financing of value chains (in terms of provision of inputs, technology and services) in both the countries. Value chain finance from commercial banks and other financial institutions is limited and mainly through tripartite agreements among the financing institutions, lead firms and farmers. Practical implications - – The lessons drawn from various value chain models and their financing mechanisms provide feedback to financial institutions and policymakers to take measures to strengthen value chain finance in smallholder agriculture. Originality/value - – The paper undertakes a rigorous review of the existing value chain models and their financing mechanisms in light of the most recent research on emerging innovations and development strategies, in order to glean key lessons for policy recommendations on strengthening linkages between financial and product markets.

Trends in the consumption of milk and milk products in India: implications for self-sufficiency in milk production

This study is an attempt to present a comprehensive picture of trends in consumption of milk and milk products, and estimate possible demand and supplies of milk in India by 2026–27 i.e. the end of XIVth Five Year Plan. (India has been following Five Year Plans for development of the economy. The 12th (2012–17) Five Year Plan is on-going.) The study is primarily based on data extracted from the quinquennial survey of the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) on consumption expenditure. Rising demands for milk and milk products will put India under constant pressure to maintain the existing growth in milk production. Any deceleration in growth of milk production will jeopardize India’s ability to meet its domestic requirements for milk in the long run.

Food consumption patterns and dietary diversity in eastern India: evidence from village level studies (VLS)

The level of diversity in household diets is an indirect measure of diet quality and the extent to which nutritional needs of households are being met. There is also a positive relationship between dietary diversity and the three pillars of food security, viz., availability, access and utilization. In the light of these statements, the paper reports on the patterns of food consumption and dietary diversity in 12 selected villages of eastern India with a view to understanding the heterogeneity in food habits, quality of diet intake and the socio-economic and demographic determinants of the dietary diversity in the region. There was significant disparity across the villages in terms of budgetary shares and intake levels of different food items. The level of heterogeneity in food intake was also reflected in the estimates of dietary diversity across villages. Multiple regression analysis on the determinants of dietary diversity showed that larger households with better-educated male heads and higher purchasing power fared well on dietary diversity scores. Access to the Public Distribution System (PDS) also contributed to enhancement of dietary diversity through an indirect route, as PDS beneficiaries are better able to afford diverse food items. In contrast, low social status in the form of affiliation to scheduled castes/scheduled tribes (SC/ST) diminished diversity scores. From a policy perspective, it is therefore important to focus interventions on improving dietary diversity and nutrition security with proper understanding of the socio-economic setting of the target area and its population.

Patterns and Drivers of Dairy Development in India: Insights from Analysis of Household and District-level Data

Traditionally, Indian farmers kept bovines, especially cattle, for draught purposes in agriculture and transportation with milk as an adjunct. However, with increasing farm mechanization and rising demand for milk, the bovine functions have shifted more towards dairying. While bovine population has been increasing, the chronic scarcity of feed and fodder reinforces the need for optimization of bovine population for sustainable growth of dairying. In this paper, using district-level data from 1997 to 2007, we show that this transformation from draught to dairying is underway in some parts of the country, and further using household-level data, we find that smallholders have contributed disproportionately more to this transformation. This transformation or intensification of dairying is demand-driven with urbanization having a strong positive influence on dairy development. On the supply-side, factors like farm mechanization, improved access to groundwater irrigation and crop diversification away from cereals, are associated with a shift in the bovine economy from draught to dairying.

Drought, distress, and a conditional cash transfer programme to mitigate the impact of drought in Bihar, India

Paddy – Bihar’s staple crop – is vulnerable to drought, primarily due to the high cost of irrigation. In 2008, the Bihar government launched a conditional cash transfer scheme to subsidize diesel for irrigation in drought-affected areas. We show that this scheme has not been effective in mitigating the impact of drought on paddy production. A primary survey of potential and actual beneficiaries shows that low awareness and penetration among smallholders, alongside uncertainties and delays in the disbursal of the subsidy, make it ineffective. We suggest that in states with limited capacity, such ad hoc subsidies are unlikely to protect smallholders from weather shocks.

Production Risks, Risk Preference and Contract Farming: Impact on Food Security in India

This article reviews the literature on contract farming (CF) in India and assesses the impact of smallholders’ perceived production risks on the adoption of CF; the impact of CF on smallholders’ food security; and its impact on employment generation in their farming enterprises. We also show the impact of the outcome variables by risk preference of smallholders. Using farm-level data and endogenous switching regression methods, this study presents three key findings. First, the perception of weather and pest risk, access to irrigation facilities, extension visits, and access to institutional credit are the main drivers of CF adoption. Second, CF adoption increases food security and varies with the revealed risk preference of smallholders, and risk-seeking smallholders tend to gain higher food security. Third, regardless of revealed risk preferences, smallholders who did not adopt CF benefit from adoption by reducing their labor requirements, with no significant losses in yield.

Pulses for food and nutritional security: The technology perspective

Pulses though extremely important from a food security and nutrition perspective in India have lagged behind cereals and have been moved increasingly to marginal environments. The persistent demand supply gap in pulses poses several challenges including technological ones that stem from movement of pulses to difficult environments and its place in relation to the competing crops. Technologies in pulses have evolved in line with the needs such as short duration to meet intercropping requirements. Given the long history of technology development that lags behind principal crops marked by near absence of private sector in R&D in pulses, it may be time to rethink and try demand pull systems of research with Advance Marketing Commitments along the lines suggested for vaccines.

Does contract farming improve profits and food safety? Evidence from tomato cultivation in Nepal

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to quantify the benefits of contract farming (CF) on farmers’ income and adoption of food safety measures (FSMs) at the farm level. The paper also investigates the determinants of participation in CF. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a survey of 600 tomato farmers from Nepal. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis (using instrumental variable) and propensity score matching have been used to accomplish the objectives of the study. Findings The study found that the CF ensures higher returns to farmers as well as higher adoption of FSMs at the farm level. The contract farmers earned about 38 per cent higher net returns and had 38 per cent higher adoption of FSM as compared to independent farmers. Caste, occupation, farm size and cropping intensity significantly affected farmers’ participation in CF. Research limitations/implications The analysis based on cross-section data has limitations to consider unobserved farmer-level individual heterogeneity. Originality/value This study will provide an empirical base to promote CF in Nepal. The study will also contribute to bridge the gap in literature on the drivers of CF and its impact on smallholders’ income and compliance with FSM in Nepal.

Impact of contract farming on yield, costs and profitability in low-value crop: Evidence from a low-income country

Lentils, a low‐value and highly nutritious crop, are Nepals largest pulse cash crop. However, the majority of the nations smallholders produce lentils on very small plots of land. The large gap in lentil yields between Nepal and other lentil‐producing countries underscores the importance of improving yields and income of smallholders. When it comes to the financial viability of small farms, particularly in developing countries, and globalisation, contract farming (CF) may prove useful in achieving efficiency and profitability in smallholder lentil farms in Nepal. This study employs the propensity score matching approach to examine the effects of the adoption of CF on yields, profitability and costs of smallholder lentil farms in Nepal. Findings from this study reveal that contrary to popular belief, CF adoption by lentil producers in Nepal has a positive and significant effect on per‐hectare revenues, profits and yield and a negative impact on variable and transportation costs. The study finds that only very smallholder lentil farms (0.01‐0.05 ha) benefit from CF.