Takeshima, H. and Nagarajan, L. (2012) Minor millets in Tamil Nadu, India: local market participation, on-farm diversity and farmer welfare. Environment and Development Economics, 17 (spl5). pp. 603-632.
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Abstract
Although farmer market participation raises income, it often also reduces on-farm varietal diversity. However, for under-utilized crops like minor millets, market participation may actually encourage growers to increase on-farm diversity through better access to new varieties exchanged at local markets and higher returns from varieties already grown. We test this hypothesis in two different agro-ecological niches, the Plains and the Hills in southern India. Empirical results based on propensity score matching indicate that, in the less fertile dryland plains, market participation improved on-farm varietal diversity of minor millets and increased net revenues – albeit with insignificant welfare effects on farm households. On the other hand, in the fertile hill ecosystems, market development had no effect on varietal diversity. Insights from such a comparison could help design suitable policy interventions for on-farm conservation of under-utilized crops in their own agro-ecosystems through active stakeholder participation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Author Affiliation: | International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), 1331 H Street NW, Washington |
| Subjects: | Social Sciences Agribusiness |
| Divisions: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Depositing User: | Mr. SanatKumar Behera |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Oct 2012 04:50 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Oct 2012 04:50 |
| Official URL: | http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1355770X12... |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/8517 |
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