1Academy of Climate Change Education and Research (Kerala Agricultural University), Thrissur-680 656, Kerala
2Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Thrissur-680 656, Kerala
3Department of Agricultural Extension, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi, Kerala
4Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Thrissur-680 656, Kerala
*Corresponding author: Dr. Chitra Parayil (Assistant Professor), Department of Agricultural Economics, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur-680 656, Kerala, e-mail: parayilchitra@gmail.com, Contact: +91 9496867932
Online published on 18 April, 2020.
In Kerala, there is a preference for Nendran banana over other cultivars for commercial cultivation due to consumer choice, multipurpose nature, better keeping quality and connection with Onam festival. Banana cultivation is subject to vagaries of nature such as flood, drought, tornado, and lightning. Assured income from banana helps to boost the economic condition of banana growers individually. In the face of uncertainty and risk faced by the farming community, various schemes have evolved over time to protect farmers against risks, such as guaranteed prices, subsidized credit, and crop insurance. This paper analyses the production and coping strategies followed by banana (Nendran) farmers to mitigate the effects of climate variability in banana cultivation in major banana growing districts of Kerala. It has been seen that about 32 per cent and 36 per cent of the cost A1 incurred are contributed by hired labour charges in Nendran banana planted in February-March (Kumbha Vazha) and October-November (Ona vazha) respectively. The net income obtained by cultivating Ona vazha was found to be higher in Thrissur than in Palakkad. The B: C ratio was relatively higher at 3.32 in Palakkad compared to 3.26 in Thrissur owing to the lower costs incurred there. The net income got per hectare was found to be higher in Thrissur ( 895321 ha-1) compared to ( 809328 ha-1) in Palakkad. Returns to scale for banana cultivation in Thrissur was 1.113 which is more than 1, which indicated increasing returns to scale in banana cultivation in Thrissur district. In Palakkad district, irrigation and bunch weight were found to influence total yield positively. Returns to scale for banana cultivation in Palakkad was 0.782, indicating decreasing returns to scale in the district. Changing the quantity and time of application of fertilizers is the coping strategy adopted next to planting date adjustment by the farmers of Thrissur, whereas replanting with short duration varieties was adopted after adjustment of planting date to mitigate climate change in Palakkad.
Nendran, Banana, Coping strategy, Cobb-Douglas production function
