Economic impact of soil health card adoption on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/jfl.v38.i2.273Keywords:
Chickpea cultivation, Cost savings, Economic impact, Income inequality, Propensity score matching, Regression analysis, Soil health card, Sustainable agriculture, Technology adoptionAbstract
The objective of this investigation is to examine the economic impact of Soil Health Card (SHC) adoption on chickpea cultivation in Ludhiana district, Punjab. Using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and regression analysis, the study compared the economic outcomes of SHC holders and non-holders. The PSM results showed a significant overlap in the common support zone, ensuring a robust comparison between the two groups. Regression analysis revealed that age had a significant negative effect on SHC adoption (β1= -0.0550), while access to extension services had a significant positive influence (β4= 0.5979). Education level was marginally significant (β3= 0.2026), suggesting slightly higher adoption among more educated farmers. The income inequality analysis showed a lower Gini coefficient for SHC holders (0.31) compared to non-holders (0.38), indicating reduced income disparities. SHC holders also experienced cost savings of 33% in fertilizer expenses and 20% in other agrochemical expenses. The findings highlight the substantial benefits of SHC adoption, supporting policy initiatives to expand the program to enhance soil fertility and farmer profitability.
References
Addison M, Ohene-Yankyera K, Acheampong PP and Wongnaa CA. 2022. The impact of uptake of selected agricultural technologies on rice farmers’ income distribution in Ghana. Agriculture and Food Security 11: 1-16.
Birthal PS and Singh MK. 1995. Structure of rural income inequality: A study in western Uttar Pradesh. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics 50(2): 168-175.
Bordoloi J and Das K. 2017. Impact of soil health card scheme on production productivity and soil health in Assam. Study No-148. Study Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Government of India, New Delhi, India.
Ding S, Meriluoto L, Reed R, Tao D and Wu H. 2011. The impact of agricultural technology adaption on income inequality in rural China. Working Paper. Department of Economics and Finance University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Dubey RK, Sharma HO, Namdeo P, Nayak KK, Jallaraph V and Shrivasatava S. 2023. Evaluation of soil health card scheme on productivity and income generation in production of paddy. The Pharma Innovation Journal 12(S12): 1221-1224.
Fikre A, Desmae H and Ahmed S. 2020. Tapping the economic potential of chickpea in sub-Saharan Africa. Agronomy 10(11): 1707.
Issa FO, Kagbu J and Abdulkadir SA. 2016. Analysis of socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ adoption of improved maize production practices in Ikara local government area of Kaduna State Nigeria. Agrosearch 16(2): 15-24.
Jukanti AK, Gaur PM, Gowda CLL and Chibbar RN 2012. Nutritional quality and health benefits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): a review. British Journal of Nutrition 108(S1): 11–26.
Kazeem AA, Dare A, Olalekan O, Abiodun SE and Komolafe TL. 2017. Attitudes of farmers to extension trainings in Nigeria: Implications for adoption of improved agricultural technologies in Ogun state southwest region. Journal of Agricultural Sciences Belgrade 62(4): 423-443.
Kumar S, Kale PA and Thombare PB. 2019. Awareness about soil health card and constraints faced by farmers in utilising its information in Southern Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Extension Education 55(3): 173-176.
Macharia I, Orr A Simtowe F and Asfaw S. 2012. Potential economic and poverty impact of improved chickpea technologies in Ethiopia.
Merga B and Haji J. 2019. Economic importance of chickpea: Production value and world trade. Cogent Food and Agriculture 5(1): 1615718.
Muehlbauer FJ and Sarker A. 2017. Economic importance of chickpea: production value and world trade. The chickpea genome 5-12.
Munshi SA, Das A, Shivaswamy GP, Devi MCA, Subash S, Jeyakumar S and Sivaram M. 2024. Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dairy farm households in West Bengal State. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 94(2): 179-184.
Ogunniyi LT, Adepoju AA and Olapade-Ogunwole F. 2011. Comparative analysis of poverty and income inequality among food crop and livestock farmers in Ilesa Metropolis Osun State. Global Journal of Human Social Science 11(5): 1-7.
Patel GG, Lakum YC, Mishra A and Bhatt JH. 2017. Awareness and knowledge regarding soil testing and utility perception of soil health card. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 6(10): 329-334.
Purakayastha TJ, Pathak H, Kumari S, Biswas S, Chakrabarty B, Padaria RN, Kalpana K, Maneesh P, Subhod S and Singh A. 2019. Soil health card development for efficient soil management in Haryana, India. Soil and Tillage Research 191: 294-305.
Ramakrishna A, Wani SP, Srinivasa RC and Srinivas RU. 2005. Increased chickpea yield and economic benefits by improved crop production technology in rainfed areas of Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research 1(1): 1-3.
Reddy AA, Bhagwat KD, Tiwari VL, Kumar N and Dixit GP. 2023. Policies and incentives for promotion of pulses production and consumption: A Review. Journal of Food Legumes 36(4): 209–228.
Reddy AA. 2018. Impact study of soil health card scheme. National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, India.
Sharma S and Singh ND. 2024. Enhancing chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production through front-line demonstration in sub mountainous region of Punjab, India. Journal of Food Legumes 37(1): 95-100.
Sjakir M, Awang AH, Azima AM, Hussain MY and Zaimah R. 2015. Learning and technology adoption impacts on farmer’s productivity. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 6(4): 126.
Sulo T, Koech P, Chumo C and Chepng’eno W. 2012. Socioeconomic factors affecting the adoption of improved agricultural technologies among women in Marakwet County Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences 3(4): 312-317.
Varshney RK, Thudi M, Nayak SN, Gaur PM, Kashiwagi J, Krishnamurthy L, Jaganathan D, Koppolu J, Bohra A, Tripathi S, Rathore A, Jukanti AK, Jayalakshmi V, Vemula A, Singh SJ, Yasin M, Sheshshayee MS and Viswanatha KP. 2014. Genetic dissection of drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics 127(2): 445–462.
Wordofa MG and Sassi M. 2017. Impact of farmers’ training centres on household income: Evidence from propensity score matching in Eastern Ethiopia. Social Sciences 7(1): 4.
Wordofa MG, Hassen JY, Endris GS, Aweke CS, Moges DK and Rorisa DT. 2021. Adoption of improved agricultural technology and its impact on household income: A propensity score matching estimation in eastern Ethiopia. Agriculture and Food Security 10: 1-12.
