Authors:
Sagar Onkarrao Manjare
Addresses:
Department of Management, Mahatma Gandhi University, Byrnihat, Meghalaya, India.
Abstract:
Indian agriculture, which supports 58% of the population, challenges ecological deterioration, climate vulnerability, and rural poverty. Organic farming, agroforestry, and Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) help promote equitable rural development, according to this study. The mixed-methods exploratory study analyses the socioeconomic and environmental implications of SAPs using primary data from 360 respondents in six states (Punjab, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Sikkim) and secondary datasets. Research indicates that SAP adoption leads to a 25% increase in household income (p < 0.05) and a 40% decrease in input costs, proving its economic viability. FPOs improve market access for 38% of smallholders, while state-led efforts, such as Andhra Pradesh's Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), increase climate resilience by 15%. Systemic impediments remain: 30% lower SAP adoption among tribal farmers due to land tenure insecurity and 28% women's agri-business engagement due to patriarchal norms. The study's Resilience Index (RI) compares ecological, economic, and social parameters to score Andhra Pradesh at 8.2/10 and Punjab at 5.6/10, highlighting regional variations. The report recommends decentralised subsidies, gender-responsive training, and digital inclusion to close policy-practice gaps by aligning SAP-driven outcomes with SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 13 (Climate Action). This study highlights SAPs as crucial to systemic rural change, offering policymakers a plan to balance equity, resilience, and growth in India's agrarian landscape.
Keywords: Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPS); Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOS); Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF); Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS); Resilience Index (RI).
Received: 27/07/2024, Revised: 17/10/2024, Accepted: 25/11/2024, Published: 03/03/2025
DOI: 10.64091/ATISL.2025.000144
AVE Trends in Intelligent Social Letters, 2025 Vol. 2 No. 1 , Pages: 38-51