Cropping pattern, marketing chains and food security status in rural-urban interface of Bengaluru

The study was conducted in rural-urban interface of Bangalore to examine the participation of farm households in different marketing chains and production diversification on food security status among selected households. Our results show that, among the different crops cultivated in the study area,%age of area under ragi was the highest followed by maize. In case of ragi, majority of the farm households sold their produce directly to consumers (farmers market) realized better price (Rs. 2350/q) and their food security status was also higher in both the transects. In case of maize, producers residing in south transect realized higher food security (70.2%) than the north transect households (68.7%). Our results suggest that, more crop diversified area is more food secured area, hence efforts should be made to promote crop diversification in north transect to enhance food security status. For better price realization, producers need to be encouraged to adopt direct marketing or selling their produce through regulated markets.