An economic analysis of integrated farming on marginal and small farms in Punjab

The present study was undertaken to analyse the employment and income level of marginal and small farms in Punjab. The study was conducted in Ludhiana and Ferozpur districts of Punjab with sample size of 120 during 2018-19 period. The results of study showed that the total labour hours used for crop production were about 1020.36 per farm. The share of family labour and hired human labour were estimated at 34.01 and 65.99 per cent respectively. Out of total, 89.71 days per annum labour generated from dairy farming the share of family labour and hired human labour was at 97 per cent and 3 per cent respectively. The total variable costs from marginal farms were Rs.69208 and Rs.147736 per farm on small farms, whereas the gross return were Rs.173002 per farm on marginal farms and Rs.357645 per farm on small farms. The return over variable costs were Rs.103794 per farm on marginal farms and Rs.209909 per farm on small farms. The extent of cost incurred on dairy animals were Rs.60163 on marginal farms and Rs.73663 on small farms. The results showed that net income from dairy were Rs.34225 from marginal farms, whereas it was Rs.61038 on small farms. The obvious reason of more net return on small farms was large herd size than marginal farms. The results concluded that sustainability of marginal and small farms in agriculture may be big challenge in future, so an urgent need to frame new policies to generate income and employment in dairy and non-agriculture sector.