aICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal-795004, Manipur
bDivision of Agricultural Extension, IARI, New Delhi-110012
cICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam-793103, Meghalaya
Online published on 5 December, 2018.
The present study was conducted in Imphal West district of Manipur to examine the impact of Farmer's club programme on technology adoption and income earning of small and marginal farmers. Among the various Farmer's club promoted by ICAR and KVKs in Manipur, three Farmer clubs viz. Sangaithel Farmer club, Khumbong Farmer club and Khabi Bamdiar Farmer club were randomly selected. Various trainings and awareness programme were conducted and new technologies were demonstrated at farmer's fields which include direct paddy seeder, pheromone trap, improved seed, package of practices, etc. For examining the impact of Farmer's club programme, a total of 150 households consisting of 75 members and 75 non-members were randomly selected from the selected villages. Paddy was the major crop cultivated in the kharif season and most of the field remains fallow after rice cultivation. It was found that 35% member cultivated improved rice varieties while it was only 7%t for non-members. Average yield of rice was 4.7 tonnes for members while it was only 4.3 tonnes for non-members. Members incurred an average expenditure of Rs 46650 per hectare for rice cultivation while for non-members it was Rs 48492. Human labour and machine labour accounted for more than 75% of the total expenditure on rice cultivation in both the group. Members obtain a higher net return i.e., Rs. 39200 while for non-members it was only Rs. 29757. The regression analysis for member group revealed that rice seed and human labour were the significant variables. For non-members it was found that seed and fertilizer were the significant variables. Out of the total 75 members, 27 have adopted cultivation in rabi and summer season with an average earning of Rs. 26583 per household. In case of non-member, only 16 farmers cultivate field in rabi and summer season with an average earning of only Rs. 19170 per household. It was found that availability of farm credit through Kisan credit card, judicious use of fertilizer, use of improved farm equipment's, seed selection and experts contacts were inherent advantage of Farmers’ Club which were lacking for resource poor small and marginal farmers in the state. Overall, Farmers’ Club has played a key role for agrarian reform by making the three stakeholders i.e., bankers, agri-experts and farmers to work in a convergence mode.
