Integrated farming system for women empowerment in an island ecosystem

T P  SWARNAM; A  VELMURUGAN; S K  PANDEY; ZACHARIAH  GEORGE

doi:10.56093/ijas.v95i3.163406

Authors

T P SWARNAM ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
A VELMURUGAN Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
S K PANDEY ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra-II, Lakhimpur Kheri, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
ZACHARIAH GEORGE ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Sri Vijayapuram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v95i3.163406

Keywords:

Integrated farming system, Nicobar Islands, Women empowerment

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the impact of integrated farming system on a smaller scale in tribal areas of Nicobar Island, India. A small scale Homestead Integrated Farming System (HIFS) comprising home garden, goat/pig, backyard poultry was evaluated in farmer’s field through participatory approach in three tribal villages of Car Nicobar during 2013–2020. To assess the impact of Integrated Farming System (IFS) on women empowerment, structured interview was carried out among 20 beneficiaries during October–November 2022. The women empowerment was assessed by quantitative and qualitative methods. Paired t test was conducted for different indicators of women economic and social empowerment comparing the baseline data collected before intervention in 2012. The study found an increase of average household income up to ₹15,000/- due to sale of surplus farm produce after home consumption from an area of 400 m² in 2020–21. The system provided an opportunity for the tribal women to earn money on their own providing financial independence. The statistical analysis indicated a significant improvement in all the indicators of economic and social empowerment of women. The women economic empowerment index increased from 0.088 (nil empowerment) before to 0.437(slight empowerment) after intervention on Likert scale. This economic empowerment led to social empowerment, the index of which has increased from 0.097– 0.278 during the same period. The study indicated that a small scale homestead farming system can be a promising path in improved livelihoods, enhanced income for achieving economic and social empowerment of women in tribal, remote and isolated areas as in Nicobar Islands.

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