Relative economics of farmers practicing different farming systems and their impact on livelihood security in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka

The study was undertaken in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state to assess the livelihood security of farmers practicing different farming systems and their relative economics. From Chikkaballapur district two taluks were selected i.e., Gowribidanur and Sidlaghatta. Major farming systems in each taluk were identified after thorough discussion with extension professionals of line departments and interaction with farmers and two predominant farming systems were selected from each taluki.e., ‘maize+dairy’ and ‘maize+dairy+horticulture’ farming systems from Gauribidanur taluk and ‘sericulture+dairy’ and ‘sericulture+dairy+horticulture’ farming systems from Sidlaghatta taluk. For each farming system 30 respondents were selected randomly, constituting the total sample size of 120. A comprehensive scale was developed to measure livelihood security of the farmers practicing different farming systems. The six dimensions were identified under livelihood security namely food and nutritional security, economic, ecological, social, psychological and physical security to assess the farmers livelihood security practicing different farming systems. In case of ‘maize + dairy’ farming system social security, In case of ‘maize + dairy + sericulture’ farming system ecological security (67.34%), in case of ‘sericulture + dairy’ farming system economic security (68.00%) and in case of ‘sericulture + dairy + horticulture’ farming system ecological security (86.66%, rank I), was ranked I. The highest benefit cost ratio was observed or found in case of ‘sericulture+dairy’ (1:3) followed by sericulture+dairy+horticulture’ (1:2.42), ‘maize+dairy+horticulture’ (1:2.00) and ‘maize+dairy’ (1:1.69).