Impact of novel low cost technological interventions on expenditure pattern of landless and sub‐marginal farmers

Abstract

Approximately 50% rural population is facing a major challenge of sustainable and reasonable livelihood security. In the present study, low costâ€highly profitable technologies were intervened to landless and subâ€marginal farmers for their socioâ€economic upliftment. The study was conducted during 2009â€2013 in Barabanki and Raebareli districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Base line survey in 42 villages (700 farmers) was conducted, interventions initiated in mid 2009 and later, these were expanded in 65 villages (5250 families). For preâ€intervention period, 6 months average was considered, whereas in postâ€intervention period 12 months average was taken in comparing expenditure pattern. The farmers were intervened with novel technologies viz.,
rural poultry production and purchase of bovine and goat, mineral based estrous induction, mastitis prevention, high yielding perennial fodder on waste land, banana as cash crop and family nutrition, lemon, guava and seasonal vegetables in courtyard, bioâ€enhancer for supporting vegetables and fruit plants. Sodic or barren unused land was transplanted with guava intercropped with vegetables and banana seedlings. The expenditure on food and clothing in preâ€intervention period was costing average of 71.4% and only 28.6% monthly earning was available for other family needs, while in postintervention period, in spite of improved food, nutrition and clothing quality, the expenditure was only 23.2% of total income. In conclusion, low input technologies whenever are intervened aiming higher profitability the impact on socioâ€economic status is visible within shortest time. It is a better option if governments create the infraâ€structural facilities and provide support with technological innovation for rural poverty alleviation.