Dimensions of malnutrition among tribal children in attappadi block panchayat Palakkad district Kerala

Abstract

Mixed farming is a farming system which combines crop production with livestockrearing conducted by households which together forms integrated components of a singlefarming system. In the study mixed farming is defined as farming which practices paddycultivation along with cattle rearing. The study aimed to explore the complementaryrelationship between two components such as paddy cultivation and cattle rearing withinmixed farming system. The study also tried to understand as whether mixed farming systemcould contribute to the attainment of three sustainability dimensions that is economic socialand environmental and to what extent. The study also focused on determinants ofsustainability in mixed farming. For analyzing the stated objectives, the study is conducted inPalakkad District of Kerala and data is collected from 394 farmers practicing paddycultivation along with cattle rearing. Two important indices are computed such asComplementarity Index – to measure the complementary relationship between paddycultivation and cattle rearing and Sustainability Index – to measure the economic,environmental and social sustainability of mixed farming. To measure the sustainability ofmixed farming, the FAO's approach to Sustainable Agriculture served as the basis with somemodifications. To trace out the determinants of sustainability in mixed farming, the Tobitregression model is employed.Complementarity refers to the synergistic relationship between paddy cultivation andcattle rearing where their combined activity leads to higher net farm income than if they weremanaged independently. The findings from the Complementarity Index (CI) which iscomputed by combining the methodology adopted by Choi et al., 2008 and Lee, 2011,indicates that 88.1% of mixed farms demonstrated complementarity between paddycultivation and cattle rearing, enhancing both productivity and resource efficiency.Sustainability Index evaluates a mixed farm’s ability to balance environmental health,economic profitability and social well-being. From the study it can be concluded that, 65.7%of mixed farms are demonstrating sustainable practices. This suggests that most mixed farmsare either meeting or nearing sustainability standards, reflecting a positive trend insustainable farming. The sustainability of mixed farming is influenced by several key factors,each playing a vital role in the overall resilience and efficiency of the system. The study ofsustainability determinants in mixed farming reveals that factors like cattle output share andfarming experience positively influence sustainability, while mixed farming output andcontribution of family labour negatively affect the sustainability index. By examining thesefactors, the study aims to identify practices that can improve the economic, environmental,and social sustainability of mixed farming. In summary, the study on mixed farming and itssustainability emphasizes the significance of implementing methods that strike a balancebetween social well-being, environmental health, and economic viability.