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A STUDY ON ADOPTION OF ORGANIC FARMING IN COTTON IN KARIMNAGAR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

P.PRASHANTH M. S.c (Ag). RAM/09-16

Department of Agricultural Extension
prashanth897@gmail.com

Ever green revolution and hunger free world - Dr. M S Swaminathan

A second Green Revolution is required to give a fresh impetus to multi cropping, and organic farming for accelerated growth A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Former President of India

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1.

To study the profile characteristics of organic and conventional cotton farmers To study the level of knowledge of organic and conventional cotton farmers on organic cotton practices. To find out the extent of adoption of cotton organic practices by the organic and conventional cotton farmers. To find out the relationship between profile characteristics and level of knowledge and extent of adoption of organic cotton farming practices by the organic and conventional cotton farmers. To elicit the constraints and suggestions of organic and conventional cotton farmers and suggesting a suitable extension strategy to promote organic cotton crop. To identify the success cases if any of the organic cotton farmers.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

RESEARCH DESIGN
Ex-post facto Research Design was adopted for the study

SAMPLING PROCEDURE
LOCALE OF THE STUDY
Andhra Pradesh was selected purposively for the study

SELECTION OF THE REGION

Telangana region was purposively selected SELECTION OF THE DISTRICT karimnagar district was selected purposively SELECTION OF THE MANDALS Two mandals namely Ellanthakunta and Bejjanki were selected purposively SELECTION OF THE VILLAGES From each sampled mandal three villages were selected randomly Rapaka, Venkatraopalli, Arepalli villages of Ellantha kunta mandal; Kallepalli, Madapoor, Vadloor

villages of Bejjanki mandal were selected for the study.

SELECTION OF THE RESPONDENTS From each selected village, ten conventional and ten organic cotton farmers were selected randomly thus a total of 60 conventional and 60 organic cotton cultivating farmers were constituted as sample for the study.

VARIABLES AND THEIR EMPIRICAL MEASUREMENT

S.No Variable Empirical Measurement

DEPENDENT VARIABLE 1. 2. Level of knowledge Extent of adoption Knowledge test developed for the study Schedule developed for the study

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES 1. Age Chronological Age

2.
3.

Education
Farming experience

Number of years of formal education

Number of years of experience possessed by a farmer in farming

4. 5. 6. 7.

Farm size Annual income Herd size Organic inputs utilisation pattern

Total number of acres possessed Net monitory returns received by the farmer No. of animals possessed Schedule developed for the study

8. 9. 10.

Training received Decision making behavior Extension Contact

Number of trainings received on cotton cultivation Schedule developed for the study Schedule developed for the study

DEVICES USED FOR COLLECTION OF DATA

An interview schedule was used for the data collection. STATISTICAL TESTS AND PROCEDURES FOLLOWED Mean, Standard deviation, Frequency, Z-test, Percentage, Coefficient of correlation and Class interval methods will be used for the study. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS State Department of Agriculture, N.G.Os- COFA, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),

DEPENDENT VARIABLES
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE

The variable knowledge is operationalised as the information possessed on organic cotton cultivation practices both by the selected organic and conventional cotton farmers. A knowledge test was developed with 45 items to measure knowledge of organic and conventional cotton growing farmers on organic cotton farming. Each item is measured on two point continuum. i.e. Correct and incorrect with 1 and 0 respectively.

Category

Organic
(Scores)

Conventional
(Scores) 0-15 16-30 31-45

Low knowledge group Medium knowledge group High knowledge group

22-28 29-35 36-42

KNOWLEDGE TEST
COLLECTION OF ITEMS

ITEM ANALYSIS
ITEM DIFFICULTY INDEX (P) ITEM DISCRIMINATION INDEX (E 1/3) (S1 + S2) (S5 + S6) E 1/3 = _____________________________ N/3

POINT BISERIAL CORRELATION (r pbis) MP-MQ rpbis = ____________ x pq SD

SELECTION OF TOTAL ITEMS

OUT OF 66 ITEMS, 45 ITEMS WERE FINALLY SELECTED BASED ON

Items with difficulty level indices ranging from 30 to 70 Items with discrimination indices ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 Items having significant point biserial correlation either at 1 per cent or 5 per cent level.
TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY VALIDITY CONTENT VALIDITY ADMINISTRATION OF THE TEST

ITEM ANALYSIS OF THE RESPONSES ON STANDARDISED KNOWLEDGE TEST

45 items of knowledge test on organic cotton practices were grouped into four categories. i.e. CATEGORY I- CONVERSION AND CERTIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS CATEGORY II- LAND PREPARATION, BIO MASS DEVELOPMENT, SOWING AND WEED MANAGEMENT CATEGORY III- PLANT PROTECTION CATEGORY IV - HARVESTING AND POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT

Based on the responses obtained on the items mean score was calculated for each category and accordingly knowledge percentage and rank was obtained. Mean score for each category= Obtained total score in that category Number of respondents (n=60)

Knowledge percentage=_Obtained total score x100 Total score

EXTENT OF ADOPTION

It was operationalised as extent to which the organic cotton cultivation practices were accepted and practically applied in the field both by the organic and conventional cotton growers.

CATEGORISATION
Category Organic
(Scores) Low adoption group Medium adoption group High adoption group 51-61 62-72 73-83

Conventional
(Scores) 12-22 23-33 34-44

ITEM ANALYSIS OF THE RESPONSES ON ADOPTION OF ORGANIC COTTONPRACTICES.

45 items of organic cotton practices were grouped into four categories. i.e.

CATEGORY I- CONVERSION AND CERTIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

CATEGORY II- LAND PREPARATION, BIO MASS DEVELOPMENT, SOWING AND WEED MANAGEMENT CATEGORY III- PLANT PROTECTION

CATEGORY IV - HARVESTING AND POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT

Based on the responses obtained on the items mean score was calculated for each category and accordingly adoption percentage and rank was obtained. Mean score for each category= Obtained total score in that category Number of respondents (n=60)

Adoption percentage=_Obtained total score x100 Total score

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
AGE
It was operationalised as the chronological age of the respondent in terms of the total number of years completed at the time of conducting the study.
S. NO. 1
2 3

Category Young age

Middle age Old age

Age range Up to 35 years

36-55 years Above 55 years

EDUCATION

It was operationally defined as the degree of formal schooling received by the respondents. A schedule was developed to measure the level of education. The respondents were classified into seven categories as follows.
Category Illiterate Primary school (Upto 5th Class) Upper primary school (6th to 7th Class) High school (8, 9 and 10th Class) Intermediate Under Graduation Post Graduation and above Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

FARMING EXPERIENCE
It was operationalized as the number of years of experience a respondent had in cultivation crops. Weightage of one score was assigned for one year of experience in cultivation.
Category Organic (Scores) Low Medium High 5-13 14-22 23-31 Conventional (Scores) 6-16 17-27 28-38

FARM SIZE
It was operationally defined as the number of acres of land the farmer is utilizing for cotton cultivation out of the total cultivated land. Weightage of one score was given to one acre of land under cotton cultivation.

Category Marginal Small Large Criteria followed < 2.5 acres 2.5 to 5.0 acres >5.0 acres

ANNUAL INCOME

This variable was operationalised as the actual income of the respondent summed up for the whole year from cotton cultivation and other than cotton cultivation from his whole land under cultivation excluding debts.

Accordingly total score was calculated for each respondent.

Category Low Medium High Organic 1-3 4-6 7-9 Conventional 2-7 8-13 14-19

HERD SIZE

It was operationalised as total number of animals possessed by the respondent at the time of investigation such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goat and poultry etc. The scoring pattern is as follows. Weightage of one score was assigned for one animal.
Category Organic (Scores) Conventional (Scores)

Small
Medium

4-9 animals
10-15 animals

2-5 animals
6-9 animals

Large

16-21 animals

10-13 animals

ORGANIC INPUTS UTILISATION PATTERN

It was operationalised as The Frequency of application or usage of various organic inputs by the respondent in growing the cotton crop. This variable consists of seven selected organic inputs with a four point continuum namely very often, often, occasionally and never. A score of four was given for very often, three was given for often, two was given for occasionally and one score was given for never.

Category

Organic (Scores)

Conventional (Scores)

Low
Medium High

14 18
19 23 24 28

8-11
12-15 16-19

TRAINING RECEIVED

Training was operationally defined as an intensive learning activity for a group of selected cotton farmers assigned by competent trainers to understand and practice the skills required in the adoption of improved cotton farming practices. It was measured in terms of number of trainings attended by the respondents as revealed by them at the time of interview. Category Organic Conventional
(Scores) Low Medium High 6-8 9-11 12-14 (Scores) 0-1 2-3 4-5

It was operationally defined as the ability of cotton farmers to make their decisions regarding raising the cotton crop in accordance with the cotton cultivation practices. This variable consists of fourteen (14) statements with three point continuum namely respondent himself, respondent and help of family, head of family with weightages of 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

DECISION MAKING BEHAVIOUR

Category

Organic (Scores)

Conventional (Scores) 18-21 22-25 26-29

Low Medium High

21 27 28 34 35 41

EXTENSION CONTACT
This was operationalised as the frequency of contacts made by the respondents with the various extension personnel. This variable was measured on four point continuum i.e. very often, often, occasionally and never with the scores of 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively.

Category
Low extension contact Medium extension contact High extension contact

Organic (Scores) Conventional (Scores)

12-17 18-23 24-29 9-13 14-18 19-23

AGE

Table 4. Distribution of respondents according to their age

S.NO.

Category of

Organic (n=60) frequency 22 32 6 percentage 36.66 53.33 10.00

Conventional (n=60) frequency 12 29 19 percentage 20.00 48.33 31.66

Farmers
1. 2. 3. Young age(up to 35) Middle age(36-45) Old age(>55years )

EDUCATION
Table 5. Distribution of respondents according to their education
S.NO Level of Education Organic (n=60) Conventional (n=60) frequency Percentage Frequency percenta ge 1. 2. 3. Illiterate Primary School Upper primary school 4. 5. 6. 7. High school Intermediate Under graduate Post graduate 7 3 2 5 11.66 5.00 3.33 8.33 6 5 3 1 10.00 8.33 5.00 1.66 5 25 13 8.33 41.66 21.66 15 19 11 25.00 31.66 18.33

FARMING EXPERIENCE
Table 6. Distribution of respondents according to their farming experience

Organic (n=60) Category Low (5-13) Medium (14-22) High

Conventional (n=60) Low Medium (17-27) High (28-38)

(23-31) (6-16)

Frequency
Percentage

18
30.00

27
45.00

15
25.00

15
25.00

30
50.00

15
25.00

FARM SIZE
Table 7. Distribution of respondents according to their farmsize

S.NO.

Category of Farmers

Organic (n=60)

Conventional (n=60)

frequency Percentage

freque percentage

ncy
1. 2. 3. Marginal(1ha) Small(1.1-2ha) Large(>2ha) 17 22 21 28.33 36.66 35.00 12 23 25 20.00 38.33 41.66

ANNUAL INCOME
Table 8. Distribution of respondents according to their annual income

Category S.NO.

Organic (n=60) Low (1-3) Medium (4-6) 29 High (7-9) 11

Conventional (n=60) Low (2-7) 19 Medium (8-13) 26 High (14-19) 15

1.

Frequency

20

2.

Percentage

33.33

48.33

18.33

31.66

43.33

25.00

HERD SIZE
Table 9.Distribution of respondents according to their herd size
S.NO. Category Small Organic (n=60) Medium Big Conventional (n=60) Small Medium Big

(4-9)
1. 2. Frequency percentage 23 38.33

(10-15)
24 40.00

(16-21)
13 21.66

(2-5)
31 51.66

(6-9)
23 38.33

(10-13)
7 11.66

ORGANIC INPUTS UTILISATION PATTERN

Table 10. Distribution of respondents according to their Organic inputs utilisation pattern
Organic (n=60) Category Low (14-18) Medium (19-23) High (24-28) Conventional (n=60) Low Medium High (16-19)

(8-11) (12-15)

Frequency
Percentage

16
26.66

15
25.00

29
48.33

32
53.33

19
31.66

9
15.00

TRAINING RECEIVED
Table 11. Distribution of respondents according to their training received

Organic (n=60) Category Low (6-8) Medium (9-11) High

Conventional (n=60) Low Medium (2-3) High (4-5)

(12-14) (0-1)

Frequency
Percentage

7
11.66

30
50.00

23
38.33

36
60.00

15
25.00

9
15.00

DECISION MAKING BEHAVIOUR

Table 12.Distribution of respondents according to their decision making behaviour

Organic (n=60) Category Low (21-27) Frequency Percentage 21 35.00 Medium (28-34) 29 48.33 High (35-41) 10 16.66

Conventional (n=60) Low (18-21) 16 26.66 Medium (22-25) 33 55.00 High (26-29) 11 18.33

EXTENSION CONTACT
Table 13. Distribution of respondents according to their extension contact

Organic (n=60) Category Low (12-17) Medium (18-23) High (24-29)

Conventional (n=60) Low (9-13) Medium High

(14-18) (19-23)

Frequency Percentage

15 25.00

26 43.33

19 31.66

19 31.66

27 45.00

14 23.33

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES

S. No. Respondent
category 1. 2. Organic Conventional

Size of the Mean

sample 60 60 35.08 21.45

S.D.

Z
value

7.661 9.985

16.08*

DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS BASED ON THEIR LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES.

Organic (n=60) Category Low ( 12-17) Frequency Percentage 9 15.00 Medium (18-23) 14 23.33 High (24-29) 37 61.66

Conventional (n=60) Low (9-13) 24 40.00 Medium (14-18) 26 43.00 High (19-23) 10 16.67

DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC COTTON FARMERS ON THE BASISOF KNOWLEDGE SCORE REGARDING ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES
Organic farming practices in S. No. cotton (Categories) 1. Conversion and certification requirements Low Medium High Low Medium High Groups range 5-6 7-8 9-10 4-5 6-7 8-9 7 3 50 4 16 40 11.66 5.00 80.33 6.66 26.66 66.66 7.82 84.97 Score Frequency Percent-age score percentage Mean Knowledge Rank

(Items 9)

2.

Land preparation, Biomass Development, sowing and weed management (Items 9)

6.47

80.33

II

3.

Plant protection

Low Medium High

3-6 7-10 11-14 3-5 6-8 9-11

5 14 41 15 13 32

8.32 23.30 68.50 25.00 21.00 54.00 12.35 68.61

(Items 18)

IV
III

4.

Harvesting and post harvest management (Items 9)

Low Medium High

5.65

70.63

DISTRIBUTION OF CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ON THE BASIS OF KNOWLEDGE SCORE REGARDING ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES
Organic farming practice in cotton S.No. (categories) 1. Conversion and certification Low Medium High 2. Land preparation, sowing Biomass Low and weed Medium High Low Medium High 4. Harvesting and post harvest management (Items 9) Low Medium Groups range 0-2 3-5 6-8 2-3 4-5 6-7 3-5 6-8 9-11 2-3 4-5 37 16 7 32 20 8 16 32 12 26 28 61.66 26.66 11.66 53.33 33.33 13.33 26.66 53.33 20.00 43.33 46.66 3.88 48.54 II 8.4 46.66 III 5.71 57.16 3.98 44.26 Score Frequency Percent-age score percentage Mean Knowledge Rank

requirements (Items9)

IV
I

Development,

management (Items9) 3. Plant protection (Items 18)

High

6-7

10.00

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXTENT OF ADOPTION OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES

S. No.

Respondent
category

Size of the Mean

sample

S.D.

Z value

1.
2.

Organic
Conventional

60
60

60.08
29.32

29.01
19.42

11.0654*

DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS BASED ON THEIR EXTENT OF ADOPTION ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES.

Organic (n=60)
Category Low Medium High (73-83) 31 Low

Conventional (n=60)
Medium (23-33) 18 High (34-44) 8

(51-61) (62-72) Frequency 12 17

(12-22) 34

Percentage 20.00

28.33

51.66

56.66

30.00

13.33

Distribution of Organic Cotton Farmers on the Basis of Adoption Score Regarding Organic Cotton Practices n=60
Organic farming practices Score S.No. in cotton (Categories) 1. Conversion and Low Medium High groups range cy age score percentage Frequen PercentMean Adoption Rank

4-8 9-12 13-16

12 6 42

20.00 10.00 70.00 12.86 71.48

certification requirements
(Items 9)

I
II

2.

Land preparation, Biomass Development, sowing and weed management (Items 9)

Low

5-8

18

10.00

Medium
High

9-12
13-15

16
26

36.66
53.33

15.95

66.45

3.

Plant protection

Low Medium High

8-16 17-25 26-34 4-8 9-13 14-17

10 12 38 9 19 32

8.32 23.30 68.50 30.00 26.66 43.33 11.00 55.00 22.58 62.73 III

(Items 18)

4.

Harvesting and post harvest management (Items 9)

Low Medium High

IV

DISTRIBUTION OF CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ON THE BASIS OF ADOPTION SCORE REGARDING ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES n=60
Organic farming S. No. practices in cotton (categories) 1. Conversion and certification requirements (Items9) Groups Low Medium High Score range 2-5 6-9 10-13 3-5 6-8 9-11 Frequency 44 10 6 34 22 4 Percentage 73.33 16.66 10.00 55.00 40.00 5.00 9.15 50.83 3.41 18.98 Mean Adoption score percentage Rank

IV
I
II

2.

Land preparation, Low Biomass Medium Development, High sowing and weed management (Items 9) Plant protection (Items 18) Low

3.

6-12

38

63.33

Medium
High

13-19
20-26 3-5 6-8 9-11

14
8 33 24 3

23.33
13.33 50.00 36.66 13.33

15.08

41.89

4.

Harvesting and post Low harvest Medium management High (Items 9

7.633

38.16

III

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED INDEPENDENT VARIABLES AND LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF ORGANIC COTTON FARMERS ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES

n=60
S.No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Age Education Farming experience Farm size Annual income Herd size Characteristics Correlation coefficient(r ) 0.101NS 0.420* 0.0648NS 0.0685NS 0.2279** 0.416*

7.
8. 9. 10.

Organic inputs utilisation pattern

Training received Decision making behaviour Extension contact

0.358*
0.365* 0.427* 0.447*

Significant at 0.05 level of probability * **Significant at 0.01 level of probability NS Non Significant

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED INDEPENDENT VARIABLES AND EXTENT OF ADOPTION OF ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES BY THE ORGANIC COTTON FARMERS

n=60
S. No.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Age Education Farming experience Farm size Annual income Herd size

Characteristics

Correlation coefficient (r )
0.120NS 0.385* 0.0377NS 0.321* 0.075 NS 0.226**

7.
8. 9. 10.

Organic inputs utilisation pattern

Training received Decision making behaviour Extension contact

0.312*
0.332* 0.384* 0.297**

Significant at 0.05 level of probability * NS Non Significant

**Significant at 0.01 level of probability

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED INDEPENDENT VARIABLES AND LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ON ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES S. No. 1. Age Characteristics

n=60

Correlation coefficient (r ) 0.126 NS

2.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Education
Farming experience Farm size Annual income Herd size Organic inputs utilisation pattern Training received Decision making behaviour Extension contact

0.0258 NS
0.0161NS 0.3645* 0.2895* 0.0379 NS 0.0193NS 0.0279 NS 0.0468 NS 0.0573NS

Significant at 0.05 level of probability * **Significant at 0.01 level of probability NS Non Significant

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED INDEPENDENT VARIABLES AND EXTENT OF ADOPTION OF ORGANIC COTTON PRACTICES BY THE CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS. S. No. Characteristics

n=60

Correlation coefficient (r )

1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Age
Education Farming experience Farm size Annual income Herd size Organic inputs utilisation pattern Training received Decision making behaviour Extension contact

0.0256NS
0.0137 NS 0.0238 NS 0.284* 0.090NS 0.0464NS 0.1693NS 0.2932* 0.0141 NS 0.365*

Significant at 0.05 level of probability * ** Significant at 0.01 level of probability NS Non Significant

SRI CHAITANYA COOPERATIVE ORGANIC SUCCESS STORY

Sri Chaitanya, MACS is established by farmers in 2004 BEFORE ESTABLISHMENT Farmers suicides due to debt trap Continuous mono-cropping with Bt cotton, which reduces soils fertility and pest resurgence . AFTER EST. In the year 2008, FFID a voluntary organisation and the COFA, a co-operative society started Internal Control System for certifying the farms. Presently COFA owned by 174 families or households

CHAITANYA ORGANIC ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THIS PURPOSE.

Develop farmers through marketing and value addition and build up supply chain in Textile industry. Organisation development through reducing middle men involvement. To provide good facilities for agricultural labour who are working in organic cotton fields. On the ground, Chaitantya organic is managed through FFID and COAPCL. FFID ensures the Transfer of technology, Internal Control system, and Certification of organic products through Field level farmers groups development. COAPCL ensures (i) Minimum support price and premium price for the organic cotton, ii) By transparency trading by giving profit shares to the farmers. iii) Marketing, training and capacity building of farmers.

ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY COFA

FORMATION OF ORGANIC FARMERS GROUPS IN VILLAGES INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM COLLECT AND MAINTENANCE OF BASE LINE DATA CAPACITY BUILDING OF FARMERS ORGANISING SEEDS, ORGANIC INPUTS AND CREDIT SUPPORT CULTIVATION OF CROPS LAND AND BIOMASS DEVELOPMENT SOIL FERTILITY IMPROVEMENT PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT CROP HARVEST ORGANIC CERTIFICATION GROUP RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION PURCHASE OF ORGANIC PRODUCE

KISTAPUR - A WHOLE VILLAGE SHOWS THE WAY A SUCCESS STORY

In 2004-05, 15 farmers started sustainable organic agriculture on 30 acres and in 2007, these farms were certified into organic. Presently, 94 farmers were cultivating land in the village is 249 acres. Farmers also reducing the cost of FYM, poultry manures by group approach. That is they bought one lorry load of poultry manures for their whole village by investing 12,000/- for season. They were using kg poultry per cotton plant for nutrients by replacing chemical fertilizers.

Trap crops Bhendi, Tajitus were used as trap crops Border crop of maize Planted around the organic cotton Now they were growing cotton intercrop with redgram for kharif season. 2007, farmers attended a training programme on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of paddy cultivation organised by MMS and realized that they can grow rabi crop (winter season crop) with the little water available to them. Now they were cultivating two crops per year. Cotton produce is certified as organic by European Agency. The prices of organic cotton, 30-40 % higher than conventional Bt cotton crop.

FARMERS SUCCESS STORY-1

Name of the farmer: Mr. Bhupathi Reddy (52 yrs) Village: Repaka, Illanthakunta (Ma.),Karimnagar(Dt.).) Education: Bachlors degree holder with agriculture occupation. Land cultivation: 11 acres of land of which 4 acres paddy, 5 acres cotton + red gram. He possesses 6 buffalos and a tractor. He cultivates paddy, cotton, pulses on his 11 acres of land which is fully organic. Krishi a local NGO influenced him to switch over to organic farming. Since from the past 6 years he has completely stopped the use of chemicals and became cent per cent organic farmer. Achieved highest yield in Organic cotton cultivation (10 qt./Acre) Prepared his own organic pesticides and organic fungicides Earlier he used to burn the cotton and paddy stubbles, but after initiating organic farming, cotton and paddy stubbles are being incorporated into the soil

FARMERS SUCCESS STORY-2

Name of the farmer: Mr. Nampalli (45) Village: Kistapur (vi.) Karimnagar (Di.) Education: Illiterate. Area possessed: 4 acres of land. He had 3 animals. He prepared compost by himself by collecting leaves, cow dung from locally available resource. He also preparing NSKE to control thrips and sucking pests infestation He followed Seed treatment with: Trichoderma, cow urine, rice water + Salt and then spreading of cotton seed for 2-3 hrs in the air reduce pest damage.

He also uses pheromone traps 5-6 per acre. He also intercropped cotton with red gram at the ratio of 7:2. He also was growing 3 rows of Red gram in between conventional fields. Achieved highest yield in Organic cotton cultivation (9 qt./Acre)+ red gram yield (3qt./acre) His net returns were 30 percent higher than conventional.

CONSTRAINTS EXPRESSED BY THE ORGANIC COTTON FARMERS ON ORGANIC COTTON FARMING

S.No. A. Technological constraints Percen tage RANK

1.

Lack of knowledge regarding different methods of pest control under

organic farming

60.95

2.

Lack of skill regarding the preparation and production of certain organic inputs

66.19

II

3.

Lack of methods for easy detection of the pest economic threshold levels

48.00

VII

4.

Complex and costly certification process

76.35

5.

Lack of knowledge about the maintenance of records and conversion

plan details

64.00

III

6.

Lack of Knowledge on identifying the harmful and beneficial insects and to conserve natural predators

55.00

VI

7.

Lack of standardised, recommended low cost technologies for organic cotton farming.

62.00

IV

B. Socio- Economical problems

1. 2. Lack of community Approach

percentage Rank
85.70 I VIII

Lack of organizational and cooperative efforts of farmers 22.00

3.

Increased cost of cultivation due to addition of organic

technologies

42.86

VII

4.

Reduction in the yields due to adoption of Various

82.00

II

organic inputs
5. 6. 7. High rate of interest on credit High cost of organic inputs Lack of technical and input support during conversion period 8. 9. Low profitability Pressure from family members not to volunteer the organic cotton farming. 75.00 81.00 V III 20.00 50.00 80.00 IX VI IV

C. Supply, service and marketing problems

1. Non availability of critical in time organic inputs( Biopesticides, Bio-agents and Traps) 2. At times the produce of in organic cotton is pricing more in the market. 3. The market intelligence on organic cotton farming is very poor among the scientists, departmental officials and farmers. 4. Lack of sufficient warehouses, to store the cotton produced under organic farming. 5. Strong fluctuation of prices in the local and world market on organic cotton produce. 6. Unfair competition in the trade invasion of buyers, who do not provide extension services and side selling. 7. Lack of subsidy on bio agents , bio-pesticides, traps and spraying equipments used in organic cotton farming 8. Weak marketing system on organic cotton trade

Percentage
72.00

Rank
III

70.00

IV

39.00

VIII

42.00

VII

54.00

VI

68.00

76.00

II

78.00

S. No.

Transfer of technology problems

Percentage Rank

1.

Lack of regulatory /dependability/credibility of extension personnel visits

52.00

III

2.

Lack of co-ordinated effort by all the concerned cotton related departments for promotion of organic cotton farming.

45.00

IV

3.

Organic recommendations not communicated in an

70.00

understandable form
4. Minimal usage of various forms/ channels of communication to disseminate the information on organic cotton farming 42.00 V

5.

Lack of regular visits by extension worker to give

the farmers on organic cotton farming

54.00

II

E. Situational constraints

Per centage

Rank

1.

Transportation of organic and poultry manures is costly and laborious

60.00

III

2.
3.

Small herd size

Non - availability of biologically treated seed in the market

85.00
80.00

I
II

4.

Lack of serious and continuous focus by the

56.00

IV

subsequent governments in promotion of organic

cotton farming. 5. Lack of access to ginning facility 30.00 V

CONSTRAINTS EXPRESSED BY THE CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMERS ON ORGANIC COTTON FARMING

S. No. 1. Constraints in organic cotton farming by conventional cotton farmers Labour intensive 80.00 II

2.
3. 4. 5.

Cost of cultivation is very high

Lack of specific package of practices Low yields and not suitable for irrigated conditions Conversion &Certification is a complex and costlyprocess

73.00
79.00 78.00 82.76

VII
III IV I

6.
7. 8. 9.

Poor availability of organic inputs

Higher weed infestation High incidence of pest and disease problems Lack of mechanisms for making aware the farmers on organic cotton farming

45.00
76.00 77.68 68.00

IX
VI V VIII

SUGGESTIONS EXPRESSED BY THE ORGANIC COTTON FARMERS FOR PROMOTION OF ORGANIC FARMING IN COTTON CROP A. TECHNOLOGICAL SUGGESTIONS

1. More awareness may be created among the farmers on

skilful handling of various methods of non chemical pest control under organic farming 2. Produce may be certified by formation of groups 3. The importance and the method of maintaining the records and scientific procedure of converting the land for organic farming may be imparted to the farmers 4. The surveillance and diagnosis mechanism should be imparted to the farmers for identify the pest ETL 5. A Cotton variety which is tolerant to sucking pests should be developed

82.56

76.38 62.46

III V

78.35

II

74.00

IV

B. SOCIO ECONOMIC SUGGESTIONS

1. More financial credit may be lended to the organic

cotton farmers with reasonable interest 2. Farmers should be sensitised to take up organic farming on community basis in the entire village. 3. The key organic inputs like compost, cakes, and

64.00 IV

74.00 III

83.00 II

manures should be available in large quantities at

low cost 4. High price may be fixed for organic cotton produce to differentiate between conventional and organic farmers profitability 84.00 I

C. SUPPLY, SERVICE AND MARKETING SUGGESTIONS

1. Bio pesticides and bio fertilisers, pheromone traps and light traps should be available in time for effective 72.45 I

management of pest population 2. The wavering of prices of cotton produce should be

minimised to build the confidence among the farmers

64.00 IV

3. Subsidy for organic inputs should be given on par with

the subsidy incurred on chemical fertilisers

69.00 III

4. The data on market intelligence of organic cotton

marketing should be strengthened

72.00 II

5. The practice of variety wise grading and standardisation 62.00 V as to be refined and strengthening assured of better price

D. SUGGESTIONS FOR EXTENSION DELIVERY SYSTEM 1. Sufficient number of training programmes should be organised on roughing, weed control, post harvest handling, (harvesting, grading, standardisation etc) other market related aspects to build the confidence of farmers on organic farming in cotton crop. 2. The government should be use various mass communication media like radio and television, to broad cast market prices of cotton regularly 3. The existing polambadi programme should be used as a plat form to disseminate the knowledge on organic cotton farming to various farmers. 4. Information corners run by the officials of DOA should be used as an effective channels to high light market prices, demand and supply, certification aspect and other organic related information on regular basis 5. The government insist for establishment comprehensive and rapid expansion of regulated 62.00 markets would aim at development of the marketing structure especially to ensure remunerative price to organic cotton producer, reduce non functional margins of traders and commission agent and to narrow down the price spread between producers and V 64.00 IV 74.00 II 68.58 III 76.00 I

consumers
6. Un scientific methods of storing is leading to considerable wastage due to absence of sufficient number of ware houses, therefore majority of the farmers were resorting to distress sales with the prevailing low prices. Hence the govt, should thought of creating more number of ware houses to preserve the old organic cotton 61.00 VI

IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

More number of agricultural information materials (farm literature) should be published in the form of leaflets, pamphlets, simple booklets on organic aspects of cotton farming has good size of respondents had formal education . Majority of the organic cotton respondents had medium age, these indicates that the government should encourage the youth to take up farming as their profession in general and organic farming in particular. Majority of the organic cotton respondents were habituated to apply the organic inputs in their cotton cultivation. In this endeavor the administrators should thought of keeping these inputs readily available in terms of quantity and quality at farmers level. In contrast to this the utility of organic inputs by the conventional cotton farmers is very less. Hence awareness may be created among these farmers by the officials of DOA on the benefits and role of organic inputs in improving the soil fertility, quality of produce and maintaining the ecological balance.

The training received by the organic and conventional cotton farmers are medium and low respectively. In order to update the knowledge level of these 2 categories of famers and also to increase the rate of adoption of organic farming (public, private and N. G.O s) should organize more need based location specific and specialized training programmes to the cotton farmers. The extension contacts of both the organic and conventional cotton farmers are medium. Hence public service extension personnel especially the officials of DOA in the ranks A.E.O., A.O., and A.D.A should be accessible to the farmers and provide round the clock guidance to the farmers. The lowest rank attributed by the organic cotton respondents on plant protection indicates that they dont have sufficient knowledge on these aspects. Hence, the scientists of agricultural university, officials of DOA and private personnel should bestow special attention on evaluating new ways and means to control the pests and diseases and refining the existing integrated pest management practices.

The least adoption of harvesting of harvesting and post harvest management practices by organic cotton farmers in organic cotton cultivation shows that there is every need to educate the organic cotton growers by the officials of department of marketing and agriculture on the importance and value of post harvest practices in enhancing the price of the cotton produce at local, national and international markets. The conventional cotton farmers had less knowledge and poor adoption of conversion and certification practices. The first step to bring the cotton farmers into organic farming is orienting them on conversion and certification requirements of organic farming. Hence, the organizations concerned with the promotion of organic farming in cotton cultivation should focus on enlightening the farmers to understand and apply the conversion and certification requirements. Majority of the respondents felt that the process /procedure followed to certify the quality of organic cotton produce is very complex and expensive. Hence, the officials of APEDA and other recognized certification agencies should cut short the procedure and design a participative group mechanism.

Strategy for Administrators / Policy makers

The administrators at the help of affairs should have broad vision and mission with regard to promotion of organic farming in cotton cultivation. A cooperative mechanism should be established between the governments private sector and NGOs at National level to percolate the spirit of organic farming at gross root level. Scaling up of NPM, Polam Badi (FFS) and rainfed cotton farmers a step towards organic cotton farming. The programmes and policies should be designed in such a passion that they should inculcate a spirit of collective approach and co-operative farming among the organic cotton farmers to generate meaningful profits / results by cultivating the organic cotton.

Strategy for Research Organisations

The research should focus more on evolving non pesticidal strategies and measures to control the pests and diseases on cotton crop. The present IPM strategy to control various pests and diseases should be refined, fine-tuned by specifying the resources which are available at local level.

Needful research should be conducted on post harvest handling of organic cotton i.e. Judging the quality of fibre, in terms of strength, length, moisture percentage, colour, these are the parameters decides the price of the organic cotton at international market.
Research should be carried out to identify the alternatives for high cost organic inputs to enrich the soil fertility as the biological resources are declining day by day. Research should be focussed on standardising the scientific procedures for preparation and manufacture of various organic inputs at local level for enough preparation of vermicompost, trichoderma and PSB (Phosphorus soluble bacteria etc.). The recommendations for organic cotton cultivation at various practices should be standardized. A variety alternative to Bt cotton and tolerant to sucking pests and could able to withstand adverse weather conditions should be evolved.

Strategies to Promote Organic Cotton Crop.

Strategies for Farmers

Farmers should understand basically the Pros and Cons and benefits of organic cotton farming to the soil, environment and mankind as a whole. Farmers should understand and implement the spirit of collective approach and cooperative organic farming in cotton crop to realise the maximise the dividends. Each individual farmer should maintain enough amount of cattle population to generate and recycle the organic inputs in his farm. The farmers should strive to get maximum formal education to be able to understand the surrounding knowledge pertaining to organic farmers and its applicability in the cotton crop. The farmers should volunteer to undergo training programmes conducted by various organisations on organic cotton related aspects. The farmers should understand that the profits in organic farming are not decided by the production of the produce i.e rather it is decided by the quality of the produce.

Strategies for Extension Officers

More number of channels (print, audio, audio-video, visual form, folk songs, skits, dramas, puppet shows) should be put into use simultaneously to reach various categories of farmers at a greater geographical area in a short time. Need based training programmes should be planned designed and implemented on the aspects like quarantine laws the utility of organic inputs certification procedure, conversion plan etc. The periodicity and duration of the training programme should be decided based on the needs and interns of farmers and complexity of the topic. The extension officials should update their market intelligence on organic cotton and they should accessible to farmers at critical periods of crop cultivation. The extension officials should focus on enhancing one of the personal traits like decision making behaviour of individual farmers for quick promotion of organic farming is given geographical area.

The formal education levels among the farmers should be improved to support them to get the information on organic cotton cultivation from various sources. The much needed impetus may be given to the organic farming, if the subsidy is given at right time in right quantity to the critical organic inputs. The government should search for way and means to increase the cattle population in rural areas. A specialised programmes should be designed in line with cattle improvement programme to help the farmers to conserve maintain and increasing the number of cattle population. Institutional credit should be provided at a less interest rate as an incentive for the practicing organic cotton farms. The organic cotton crop of farmer should be covered under crop insurance scheme with the initiation taken by government. These promotes organic farming in the cotton crop.

The marketing system as expressed by the respondents to market the organic cotton produce is unstructured, irregular and lot of interventions by middle men. Hence, the department of marketing should come out with a structured, pool proof, transport and well regulated marketing system to fetch good remunerative prices for the organic cotton produce. The study revealed that, community approach is lacking among the respondents in organic cotton cultivation. In order to encourage the collective and cooperative farming among the cotton farmers. The government should design schemes to lend les s interest rate financial credit to the groups formed to take up organic farming collectively with the additional benefit of creating development fund for the community and insurance coverage.

Strategies for Marketing Official

A transparent, regulated and well structured marketing system should be designed for effective marketing of organic cotton produce. The market intelligence on organic cotton should be well maintained and informed at right time to all the state holders like Scientists, Extension marketing Officials and farmers. The price disparity should be shown between the produce of organic and inorganic cotton.

The fluctuation of price of organic cotton should be minimised to avoid the distressed sales of organic cotton by the farmers.

THANK YOU