Farmer Interest Groups: Paving Its Path Towards Profitability

Abstract

The current study entailed to ascertain the role that Farmers' Interest Groups played in knowledge transfer as well as in increasing agricultural production, productivity, and in turn leading to profitability for the farm sector in the Boudh district of Odisha. For the impact assessment, six FIGs from a range of villages in the Boudh district, including Baghiapada, Saleising, and Palijhar, were randomly selected. The results of this study depicted that member of Farmer Interest Groups adopted scientific agricultural practices and goatery technologies at a greater mean rate (80.63 MPS and 79.63 MPS, respectively) than non-members (59.12 MPS and 60.12 MPS). The aggregate differences in the adoption of crop and goatery farming technology between FIG members and non-members were calculated to be 21.5 and 19.5 MPS, respectively. It was also found that the crop and goatery production under FIG produced a higher yield than the agricultural practices now employed by farmers.  The members became more active in meetings and the adoption of new and scientific farm and goatery technology after learning about the benefits of the FIGs. In addition to enhancing agriculture and animal production, this will also benefit the socioeconomic conditions of the farming community.