Browsing by Author "Roul, P."
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- Comparative economic analysis of conservation agricultural practices in Tentuli Village, IndiaLai, Cynthia (2011)During this time of environmental change, the management of natural resources may be our wisest pursuit; specifically, where it relates to international agricultural development. This research has studied the potential for agricultural development in the tribal villages of Kendujhar, one of the poorest districts in the East Indian state of Odisha. With a population primarily consisting of smallholder farming systems characterized by poor soil fertility and moisture retention, limited irrigation, and susceptibility to erosion, agricultural productivity in this region has been adversely impacted. As such, this study’s research evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture (CA) practices in these villages. This dynamic approach of CA focuses on two interventions: minimum tillage and intercropping. Primary data collection through face-to-face interviews was completed to establish agricultural household baselines in the district, while a field experiment was used to assess the productivity of the two CA practices. Maize/cowpea intercropping and minimum tillage treatments were established to determine differences in yields and labor requirements. The results showed that with a maize/cowpea intercrop, the greatest returns occur when we consider labor without the opportunity for off-farm employment. On the other hand, if labor has opportunity for off-farm employment, it is more economical to work off-farm; however, this applies primarily to young male household members who have greater opportunity for employment. The implications for gender, in terms of labor, are such that with CA, male labor reduces while female labor increases. Based on the results, there are multiple recommendations for agribusiness and policy-makers: (1) assist farmers with input and seed subsidies and access to credit for CA adoption to enhance yields, increase returns, and improve food security; (2) increase extension efforts for farmer education on the benefits of CA; and (3) train farmers on the benefits of high-yielding commercial seeds and improved farming practices.
- Comparative Economic and Gender, Labor Analysis of Conservation Agriculture Practices in Tribal Villages in IndiaLai, Cynthia; Chan, C.; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Shariq, L.; Roul, P.; Idol, Travis; Ray, Chittaranjan; Evensen, Carl (International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), 2012)Marginal land use and subsequent natural resource degradation is a common issue among tribal villages in the Kendujhar district of India. In this study, Conservation Agriculture (CA) technologies at an experimental site, specifically the practices of intercropping and minimum tillage, were compared to conventional tillage practices of three tribal villages (145 households total) in this district. The impacts of CA implementation on gender, labor, and economic (yield and profitability) factors compared to conventional tillage practices were evaluated and used to make recommendations for future policy initiatives.
- Measuring the economic impact of conservation agriculture adoption in rural India using linear programming and economic surplus analysisChan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Reed, Brinton F.; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Roul, P. (Honolulu HI: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, 2013)Despite its proven ability to increase yields, improve soils and reduce pollution, conservation agriculture (CA) adoption remains low among smallholders in many regions of South Asia due in large part to a lack of information regarding the full range of benefits it offers to farmers and local economies. Agriculture in Odisha, India is characterized by smallholder subsistence farming (average farm size of 1.25 ha) which contributes to one of the highest rural poverty rates in India and makes Odisha a prime target for adoption efforts. This study uses farmer preference data, experimental plot results and a multi-objective linear programming model to identify the combination of regionally-adapted CA practices that optimizes profitability, soil quality and labor cost savings. Economic surplus analysis is used to predict the impact adoption of such practices would have on the Indian state of Odisha. Model results indicate that adoption of reduced tillage with maize and cowpea intercropping in the first growing season and a combination of mustard cover crop and fallow treatments (on 60% and 40% of cultivated area, respectively) in the second growing season will maximize profit and soil quality while minimizing labor costs, given weighted farmer preferences for each objective. Adoption of this CA production system would increase profit by 140%, improve soil quality by 34% and reduce labor costs by over 30%. Adoption rates of 1%, 3% and 5% would net the state of Odisha $19.8 million, $59.8 million and $100.2 million in consumer and producer surplus. This study not only presents a flexible and simple methodology for determining which CA practices have the highest likelihood of long-term success and the economic impact of adoption, but also provides incentive for adoption at the farm level and for the formulation of pro-adoption policy at the state level.
- Sustainable Management of Agro-ecological Resources for Tribal Societies (SMARTS) in India & NepalChan, C.; Idol, Travis; Ray, Chittaranjan; Roul, P.; Tamang, Bishal B.; Pande, K.; Paudel, Bikash; Pradhan, Aliza; Halbrendt, Jacqueline (2014)This PowerPoint summarizes the research and training activities of SANREM’s regional project in India and Nepal. The presentation includes results from agronomic studies in both sites, as well as gender-related analysis, cognitive modeling, and impacts on health and nutrition.