SMALLHOLDER FAMILY FARMING OF FCV TOBACCO IN KARNATAKA – A SOCIOECONOMIC EVALUATION

Abstract

Livelihood security for the smallholders practicing family farming continues to be a cause of concern in India. Small and marginal farmers (with farm size < 2 ha) account for more than 80% of total farms in India and grow crops in complex and risk prone situations. The Flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, grown predominantly as a rainfed crop, has been the main source of livelihood for umpteen smallholders in the state of Karnataka. Mysore district of the state, accounting for 84% of FCV tobacco area with an average holding size of 0.7 ha, against the state’s average holding size of 0.81 ha, leads in socio-economic development indicators compared to neighbouring non-tobacco districts. Against this backdrop, socio-economic contribution of smallholder family farming of FCV tobacco was critically analyzed. The relevant data were collected through secondary sources and analyzed. Comparative economic evaluation revealed that no crop/cropping system is as remunerative as FCV tobacco crop under rainfed farming situations of Karnataka Light Soils (KLS). Further, FCV tobacco generated remarkably greater number of mandays of employment due to which family labour assumes importance. The cultivation of FCV tobacco has led to an improvement in wealth of Mysore district and depicted significant increase by 3% in 3-5 room houses, 23% in standard bathrooms, 12% in standard kitchens, 8% in television sets and 5% in two wheelers compared to that of non-tobacco district, Chamarajnagar. Literacy rate and social indicators viz., water and sanitation were high in FCV tobacco growing district. This study illustrates that FCV tobacco, a non-food cash crop, can have a huge transformational impact on livelihood security and socio-economic well-being of small holder family farmers in Karnataka.