Mixed farming and its sustainability a study on palakkad district in Kerala

Abstract

Mixed farming is a farming system which combines crop production with livestock rearing conducted by households which together forms integrated components of a single farming system. In the study mixed farming is defined as farming which practices paddy cultivation along with cattle rearing. The study aimed to explore the complementary relationship between two components such as paddy cultivation and cattle rearing within mixed farming system. The study also tried to understand as whether mixed farming system could contribute to the attainment of three sustainability dimensions that is economic social and environmental and to what extent. The study also focused on determinants of sustainability in mixed farming. For analyzing the stated objectives, the study is conducted in Palakkad District of Kerala and data is collected from 394 farmers practicing paddy cultivation along with cattle rearing. Two important indices are computed such as Complementarity Index – to measure the complementary relationship between paddy cultivation and cattle rearing and Sustainability Index – to measure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of mixed farming. To measure the sustainability of mixed farming, the FAO's approach to Sustainable Agriculture served as the basis with some modifications. To trace out the determinants of sustainability in mixed farming, the Tobit regression model is employed. Complementarity refers to the synergistic relationship between paddy cultivation and cattle rearing where their combined activity leads to higher net farm income than if they were managed independently. The findings from the Complementarity Index (CI) which is computed by combining the methodology adopted by Choi et al., 2008 and Lee, 2011, indicates that 88.1% of mixed farms demonstrated complementarity between paddy cultivation 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 farms are either meeting or nearing sustainability standards, reflecting a positive trend in sustainable 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 of sustainability determinants in mixed farming reveals that factors like cattle output share and farming experience positively influence sustainability, while mixed farming output and contribution of family labour negatively affect the sustainability index. By examining these factors, 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 its sustainability emphasizes the significance of implementing methods that strike a balance between social well-being, environmental health, and economic viability.