The present study was undertaken with a view to assess the growth in fertilizer consumption and fertilizer use pattern, to examine the gap between actual use and recommended dose of fertilizer, to study the determinants of fertilizer use, to estimate the fertilizer use efficiency and to study the impact of Soil Health Card on consumption of fertilizer in South Gujarat region. Multistage random sampling technique was used for sample selection. Total sample size comprised of 224 farmers with 50-50 per cent from with and without Soil Health Cards. The primary data were collected for the agricultural year 2010 11 by survey method.
The results of the study revealed that among all the crops in South Gujarat region, the highest area was allocated to sugarcane crop, followed by kharif paddy and summer paddy.
Among the regions, Middle Gujarat stood at top in consumption of N during all periods and Kutchh stood at the bottom. During the Period–I, IV and VI, the consumption of N fertilizer significantly increased in all the regions of Gujarat state. During Period–II and Period-III, the consumption of N increased significantly in all regions except Saurashtra region. Gujarat as a whole, the consumption of N increased significantly during Period-IV. During Period–V, the consumption of N increased significantly in all regions along with Gujarat as a whole and the lowest instability index was found in South Gujarat region.
The consumption of P fertilizer significantly increased in all the regions along with Gujarat as a whole during Period-I. During Period–II, the consumption of P increased significantly only in North Gujarat region. The lowest instability index was found in South Gujarat region (29.07%). During Period–III, the consumption of P increased significantly in all regions except, Saurashtra region. During Period–IV, the compound growth rates were found positive but non-significant in all the regions. During Period–V, the consumption of P increased significantly in North Gujarat and Kutchh regions. For whole period, the consumption of P increased significantly in all regions. The lowest instability index was found in South Gujarat region (29.14%).
During the Period-I, the consumption of K fertilizer was not reported in any regions of Gujarat State. During Period–II, the consumption of K increased significantly in Saurashtra, North Gujarat, Kutchh and Gujarat as a whole.
Table of Contents
I INTRODUCTION
II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
III METHODOLOGY
IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
VI REFERENCES
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
The primary research objective is to analyze the growth and patterns of fertilizer consumption in Gujarat, evaluate the usage gap between actual and recommended levels, identify key determinants of fertilizer use, assess efficiency across major crops, and examine the impact of Soil Health Cards on agricultural outcomes in the South Gujarat region.
- District-wise analysis of fertilizer consumption trends in Gujarat.
- Estimation of gaps between recommended and actual fertilizer application rates.
- Identification of economic and agronomic determinants for fertilizer use in major crops.
- Assessment of fertilizer use efficiency and input-output elasticities using production functions.
- Evaluation of the socio-economic and yield-related impact of the Soil Health Card scheme on farmers.
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1.1 General
The process of economic development and its growth in early stage of developing country is crucially dependent upon the progress of agricultural production with a larger share in national income, employment and export earnings. Thus, agriculture determines the pace of progress. In India, agricultural sector still occupies a predominant position in the country’s economy, accounting for about 13.9 per cent of gross domestic product and one- fifth of foreign exchange. This sector provides employment to about 58.2 per cent (www.indiancensus, 2001) of the total labour force in the country. Furthermore, its forward and backward linkages with other sectors of the economy are well established in the literature of development economics. Therefore, to achieve an accelerated pace of economic growth, sustained development of the agriculture sector is sine qua non.
With the 2 per cent world’s geographical area, India has the responsibility to feed 18 per cent of world population. Since independence, our country is constantly increasing foodgrains production which has reached to 244.78 million tonnes in 2010-11, more than about five times the 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51. With the success of green, white and blue revolution, India is now in the position of self reliance in foodgrains production. It is expected that the total foodgrains demand by 2020 and 2025 is estimated to be 294 and 322 million tonnes, respectively (Kumar, 1998; Malavia, et al., 2000). Thus by 2025, we need to produce about 118 million tonnes additional foodgrains per year from the same or even less area. The most challenging problem which India faces today is the growth rate of foodgrains production which is lower than the population growth rate during last two decades.
Summary of Chapters
I INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of the agricultural sector's role in the Indian economy and introduces the research problem regarding fertilizer consumption and sustainability.
II REVIEW OF LITERATURE: This section reviews existing research concerning fertilizer consumption patterns, factors affecting fertilizer use, efficiency analysis, and the impact of soil health initiatives.
III METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the research design, including the study area, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and the analytical framework used to evaluate fertilizer trends and impacts.
IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This core section presents the empirical findings regarding socio-economic characteristics of farmers, growth trends in fertilizer consumption, gap analyses, and the impact of the Soil Health Card scheme.
V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: This chapter synthesizes the primary findings of the research and outlines key policy implications for improving fertilizer efficiency and supporting sustainable agriculture.
VI REFERENCES: A comprehensive list of academic sources, studies, and official reports utilized to support the research work.
Keywords
Agricultural Economics, Fertilizer Consumption, Soil Health Card, Crop Productivity, Gujarat Agriculture, Input-Output Efficiency, Sugarcane, Kharif Paddy, Compound Growth Rate, Instability Index, Fertilizer Gap, Resource Allocation, Sustainable Agriculture, Farm Income, Input Demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary scope of this research study?
The study focuses on the regional imbalances and the impact of the Soil Health Card scheme on fertilizer consumption, specifically within the agricultural sector of Gujarat, with an emphasis on South Gujarat.
What are the central thematic areas addressed in this thesis?
The core themes include trends in fertilizer usage at the district level, the gap between recommended and actual application doses, determinants of fertilizer demand, fertilizer use efficiency, and the efficacy of Soil Health Cards in enhancing crop yield.
What is the ultimate research objective of this study?
The goal is to provide empirical insights into fertilizer use patterns to help policymakers and planners formulate strategies that attain long-term agricultural productivity goals while addressing regional disparities.
Which scientific methodology is employed to analyze the data?
The study utilizes a multistage random sampling technique for primary data collection and employs mathematical tools such as exponential growth models for trend analysis and Cobb-Douglas production functions for determining input efficiency.
What aspects of fertilizer usage are covered in the main body?
The main body examines nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) consumption, identifies determinants like annual income and credit availability, and compares yield outcomes for farmers with and without Soil Health Cards.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include Fertilizer Consumption, Soil Health Card, Agricultural Economics, Input-Output Efficiency, and Resource Allocation.
How does the Soil Health Card influence farmer behavior according to the findings?
The study finds that farmers possessing Soil Health Cards tend to apply fertilizers more judiciously according to recommendations, resulting in a smaller utilization gap compared to farmers without the cards.
What is the conclusion regarding the impact of Soil Health Cards on net farm returns?
The analysis indicates that farmers using the Soil Health Card achieved higher net returns per hectare for both sugarcane and kharif paddy crops compared to those who did not use the cards, supporting the scheme's benefit.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr.Jayantilal Jerajbhai Makadia (Autor), 2012, Regional iImbalances and Impact of Soil Health Card on Fertilizer Consumption in Gujarat, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/300404
