Role of mixed farming for sustainable livelihood of small and marginal farmers in western maharashtra

The paper attempts to examine the economic viability of small and marginal farmers in Western Maharashtra and suggest ways to achieve economic sustenance. The study is based upon primary data collected from 96 farm households representing different farm size classes, selected from scarcity region of Western Maharashtra. The study has shown that agriculture is not able to provide sustenance to a large number of small and marginal farmers in the Western Maharashtra. The marginal farmers earn only 37 per cent of income from agriculture and 48 per cent from non-agriculture activities. The per-day per-capita income from agriculture has been found to be Rs.16 for marginal farmers, Rs. 34 for small farmers, Rs. 49 for medium farmers and Rs. 86 for large farmers for 2013-14. The marginal farmers, who constitute over 70 per cent of farmers, fall below the poverty line if they depend solely on agricultural income. Given the inadequacy of agricultural income to meet household expenditure, the small and marginal farmers have to devise livelihood strategy for their survival. The study has suggested a integrated strategy of promoting agricultural and non-agricultural activities in the rural areas embedded in the local conditions, resources and institutions to meet the challenge of sustainable development in the region of state. The study has also suggested for promoting sustainable livelihood for farmers are (i) Increase in agricultural productivity is the key to improving living conditions of farmers and promoting non-farm activities through forward and backward linkages and (ii) Mixed farming should be adopted by the farmers to supplement their income.