Diversified Farming Farm Diversification and Sustainable Rural Livelihood with Special Reference to Harda District

Abstract

Agriculture is the most common and wide spread socio-economic and livelihood activity in India and the world. Roughly two thirds of the population is dependent on or associated with it for their socio-economic and livelihood sustainability. newlineThe prevailing agricultural practices has created many socio-economic problems and agitating the sustainability of rural life. It has given birth to the problems such as migration, poverty, farmer suicides, malnutrition, threat to bio-diversity, erratic weather, crime against women and children, and lack of immunity. newlineThe diversified farming and farm diversification is considered as an important pathway for agrarian development and social sustenance of the farming community. It means diversification of practices and resources to transform a low earning agriculture to a high earning agriculture. newlineThis research aims for examining the current status of diversified farming and farm diversification in HARDA, Madhya Pradesh, finding the gap with potentials of diversification in the research area and academic recommendations for implementing the identified gap for achieving the objectives in the research area. The research is carried out with 40 samples from each village and a total of 320 samples from 8 villages. Diagnostic research design is used with a well-designed schedule and questionnaire. newlineLow literacy rateacting as road block for adopting the diversified farming and farm diversification. All family members are not able to utilize their time in agriculture and local opportunities are not available to use the spare time for earning. Clusters of cottage industry are needed for rural prosperity. Diversified farming and farm diversification adoption are very low but the farmers adopted are receiving sustainable earnings. Limited facilities for direct market access are a roadblock in realizing higher income. Farm and non-farm-based agriculture enterprises needs to be created using FPO or SPV as institution. Sufficient flow of credit, knowledge and innovations required for adoption of s