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Labour availability in coconut cultivation and impact on technology adoption as perceived by coconut farmers

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Title Labour availability in coconut cultivation and impact on technology adoption as perceived by coconut farmers
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Creator P. Anithakumari
 
Subject Coconut, labour availability, mechanisation, root (wilt) disease, technology adoption
 
Description Coconut assumes importance as a traditional base crop of the agro forestry systems followed by the small and marginal farmers throughout the coconut growing countries, as well as an economically important commercial tree crop. The coconut farmers has been facing several problems in the root (wilt) disease affected area, of which the major perceived one is the declining profitability from the crop. The cost of inputs,manures, fertilisers and labour increases the cost of production paradoxically with the low price of the coconut.Farming is essentially considered as labour intensive process.Scientific management of this tree crop requires skilled and unskilled labourers. A study conducted in Alappuzha district also indicated labour scarcity, high wage rateand timely availability as major constraints intechnology adoption. (Anithakumari et al., 2012).Hence, this study was taken up with the following objectives of assessing farmers perception on labour availability for coconut cultivation and extend of mechanization, analysing the labour scenario in technology adoption status and to bring out the constraints and suggestions in overcoming labour shortages
Labour is an important resource for sustainable farming. Coconut, a perennial tree crop, requires skilled and unskilled labour components for adoption of scientific management practices. The study indicated that both hired and family labour were utilized in seedling planting and management, whereas family labour was prominently utilized in case of chemical fertilizer application and basin management with green manure. Hired labour was critical in basin opening,organic manure application, plant protection and harvesting. Most of the technologies adopted were irregular in nature which was indicated due to escalating input costs and declining output price. Majority of the respondents (76.32%)adopted keramithra for de-husking coconuts. Farmers who adopted mechanization in land preparation opined 60-75 percent reduction in expenditure compared to manual labour. Seventy eight per cent of respondents recorded scarcity in labour availability. The responses of the farming community towards the high wage rate and scarcity were discontinuation of milch animals in coconut homesteads, reduction in number of regular harvests, untimely harvests of coconut, reduction in intercropping, irregularity in basin opening and cultural practices, low level of organic manure application etc.Mechanization in coconut cultivation among small/marginal holders is meager and needs impetus from supporting agencies. The constraints and suggestions of the farmers were also documented.
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Date 2024-04-05T13:58:38Z
2024-04-05T13:58:38Z
2013-08-01
 
Type Article
 
Identifier Not Available
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http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/81879
 
Language English
 
Relation Not Available;
 
Publisher Indian Society for Plantation Crops (ISPC)