Minor Millets in Tamil Nadu, India: Local Market Participation, On-farm Diversity and Farmer Welfare
| Author | Hiroyuki Takeshima | |
| Author | Latha Nagarajan | |
| Jurisdiction: | India | |
| Date of acession | 2023-11-06T12:03:30Z | |
| Date of availability | 2023-11-06T12:03:30Z | |
| Date of issue | 2012-08-28 | |
| Abstract | Although farmer market participation raises income, it often also reduces on-farm varietal diversity. However, for under-utilized crops like minor millets, market participation may actually encourage growers to increase on-farm diversity through better access to new varieties exchanged at local markets and higher returns from varieties already grown. We test this hypothesis in two different agro-ecological niches, the Plains and the Hills in southern India. Empirical results based on propensity score matching indicate that in the less fertile dryland plains, market participation improved on-farm varietal diversity of minor millets and increased net revenues – albeit with insignificant welfare effects on farm households. On the other hand, in the fertile hill ecosystems, market development had no effect on varietal diversity. Insights from such a comparison could help design suitable policy interventions for on-farm conservation of under-utilized crops in their own agro-ecosystems through active stakeholder participation. | |
| URL | https://hub.ifdc.org/handle/20.500.14297/2694 | |
| Language | en | |
| Title | Minor Millets in Tamil Nadu, India: Local Market Participation, On-farm Diversity and Farmer Welfare | |
| Type | Article |