College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur - 680 656. E-mail: Trc_indira@sancharnet.in
The study has assessed the social, economical and sustainability aspects of the identified agribusiness enterprises through a multi-visit programme of sample units. It has revealed that the socio-economic status of the entrepreneur plays an important role in the success/failure of the enterprise concerned. The perceptions, training support and family characteristics have been found to influence the successful performance of the unit, apart from the general aspects like age, education, etc. More than 50 per cent of the entrepreneurs have been observed to depend on external capital assistance, which included private and institutional sources. It is heartening to note that a majority of the borrowers depend on institutional sources. The financial efficiency of the units has been assessed following the tools of Pay Back Period, NPW, BCR and IRR. Among the enterprises studied, excepting one (poultry farming) all have been found to be economically viable; agro-processing and ornamental fisheries being the most efficient ones. By constructing a composite sustainability index, capturing the dimensions of owned resource-base and pollution effects, the sustainability attributes have been assessed. Composite sustainability index has been estimated as one for processing and vermi-composting enterprises, indicating very high sustainability status, followed by commercial nursery, fisheries and ornamental fisheries. But poultry business has been found to be highly unsustainable. The study has suggested the identification of rural homescale agri-enterprises based on the efficiency and sustainability attributes and development of effective management packages for their efficient functioning.
