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The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Agricultural households in Kerala increasingly viewing social media as source for farming-related technical advisory services: report
Agricultural households in Kerala are increasingly viewing social media as an easily accessible source for farming-related technical advisory services, a survey by the State government's Economics and Statistics Department shows. While mass media platforms generally play a significant role in disseminating farming knowhow, social media was the most accessed source overall, reaching 355 per 1,000 farming households that were surveyed, according to the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households: 2024-25 carried out in collaboration with the State Agriculture Department. Social media was followed by radio, television, and other electronic media (327 per 1,000), print media (213 per 1,000), and smartphone-based apps (146 per 1,000). These results underline the growing importance of digital and mass communication channels in agricultural extension, the report said. A comparison of the access to technical advice by agricultural households between 2018-2019 and 2023-25 shows an increase in the case of progressive farmers, government extension programme (ATMA) and smart phone-based information. At the same time, the Kerala Agricultural University and colleges emerged as the leading source of advice on improved seeds and varieties, with 790 out of 1,000 households reporting support from these institutions. Input dealers were the primary source of guidance on fertiliser application. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and government extension agencies played a pivotal role in providing plant protection advice. Peer networks remain influential, with progressive farmers offering considerable advice on fertiliser application and improved seeds, demonstrating the continued relevance of farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer, the report observed. 'Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and private processors were notable sources of advice in the post-harvest stages, especially in harvesting and marketing (438 and 158 households per 1,000, respectively), highlighting the role of collective and commercial linkages,' it said.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala Economics and Statistics dept report pegs average monthly income of agricultural households at ₹28,984
The average monthly income of agricultural households in Kerala, while showing an increase over 2019, continues to hover below the ₹30,000-mark, indicates a report compiled by the Economics and Statistics Department of the Kerala government. The average monthly income of agricultural households, at current prices, stood at ₹28,984 in 2024, according to the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households in Kerala: 2024-25, compiled by the department in collaboration with the Agriculture Department. Of this, crop production by itself accounted for a mere 22.97% (₹6,658), with the rest being contributed by wages (60.71%), animal farming (6.25%), non-farm business (9.93% and income from leasing out land (0.13%). In addition to these sources, the earnings from pensions and remittances stood at ₹6,348. 'This income profile underscores a high dependence on wage labour, indicating the limited profitability or scale of agricultural operations on own-farm holdings,' the report observed. Compared to 2019, the average monthly income of agricultural households in the State has risen by 61.79% – from ₹17,915 to ₹28,984 at current prices. The income from crop production rose from ₹3,638 to ₹6,658, an increase of 83.01%. The Situation Assessment Survey captured data for the agricultural year 2023-24 and employs statistical techniques to project income levels for 2025-26. The primary objective of the survey was to assess the progress toward the State government's policy goal, announced in 2021, of increasing the agricultural household income by 50% by 2026. Projections show that the monthly income, on an average, would increase to ₹33,411 in 2026. For the purposes of the survey, an agricultural household is defined as 'a household that has received some value of produce from agricultural activities during the reference period.' An agricultural household was defined as any household where at least one member has self-employment in agriculture as their 'principal activity or subsidiary status.' The survey also looked at households whose major source of income is self-employment in crop production. In their case, the average income rose to ₹29,011 in 2024 from ₹18,891 in 2019. 'While agricultural household incomes have improved considerably over the five-year period, the data reveals a continued reliance on wage labour and limited progress in diversifying income sources. Gains from crop and animal farming are notable but require further support. Meanwhile, stagnation in non-farm business income and the decline in land leasing returns suggest the need for targeted interventions. Strengthening farm-based enterprises and promoting dynamic non-farm rural economic activities are essential for ensuring sustainable and resilient agricultural livelihoods,' it said. Persistent challenges, including wild animal intrusion, climate variability, pest and disease outbreaks, and water scarcity continue to jeopardise the sustainability and profitability of agriculture in the State, according to the report. 'Farmers are increasingly investing time and resources in agriculture, leaving less scope for alternative income sources. These challenges underscore the need for climate-resilient, productivity-enhancing agricultural policies,' the report said.
