Climate Resilient Farming: Influence of Livelihood Assets on Agrochemical vs Organic Input Use in Coastal India

Sreejit  Roy; Sridev Adak; Saptarsi Chakraborty; Rishav Mukherjee; Mehedi Hasan; Muhammed M Irshad; Achiransu Acharyya; Souvik Ghosh

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2025.61420

Authors

Sreejit Roy
Sridev Adak
Saptarsi Chakraborty
Rishav Mukherjee
Mehedi Hasan
Muhammed M Irshad
Achiransu Acharyya
Souvik Ghosh http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2161-2984

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.61420

Keywords:

Agrochemical intensification, Climate change, Livelihood assets, Organic farming, Sustainability

Abstract

Climate change poses immense pressure on global agriculture, particularly in coastal regions. Several adaptation strategies to climate change were taken by farmers, though not all are aligned with long-term sustainability. Through logistic regression, the study assesses the role of livelihood assets in farmers' choices between agrochemical intensification and organic farming, where livelihood assets were measured using the Department for International Development’s (DFID) framework. The study covered five coastal states and one coastal union territory of India. Using a stratified random sampling method, 520 agricultural households were surveyed during 2024–2025. Villages were selected based on proximity to the sea and the implementation of the National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (PoCRA) programmes. Findings indicate physical capital as a pivotal factor encouraging organic farming and curbing agrochemical intensification, while human capital reduces reliance on agrochemicals. Natural and financial capital enhance agrochemical use. The dual positive influence of social capital on organic farming and agrochemical intensification underscores the need for tailored guidance, as affirmed by sustainability-oriented initiatives, proven effective in limiting agrochemical intensification as NICRA and PoCRA. Inclusion in such programmes and enhancing human and physical capital may reinforce farmers’ orientation with sustainable adaptation trajectories.

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Author Biography

Souvik Ghosh

Dr. Souvik Ghosh is presently Professor (Agricultural Extension) and former Head, Department of Agricultural Extension, Visva-Bharati. He was positioned as Visiting Scientist at Department of Economics, South Dakota State University, USA during 2016. Earlier he worked as Scientist and Senior Scientist at ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar during 2000-09 and 2009-13, respectively. He graduated as Gold Medalist in B.Sc. (Agril.) Hons. from Visva-Bharati University in the year 1995 and passed M.Sc. (Dairying) in Dairy Extension Education with Directorâ€™s Gold Medal at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal in 1997. After completion of Ph.D. (Agricultural Extension) from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi with distinction of Significant Post-Graduate Research in 2000, Dr. Ghosh joined Agricultural Research Service of ICAR on 10th July 2000. Dr. Ghosh has completed eight projects as PI and 22 projects as Co-PI. His outstanding work done in the field of agricultural extension research has brought many laurels including Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Scientist Award 2011 of ICAR, ICAR Outstanding Team Research Award 2006, Dr. K.N. Singh Memorial Award 2017 of Indian Society of Extension Education (ISEE), Dr. Y.P. Singh Memorial Award 2018 of ISEE, Best Scientist Award of ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management 2008, Institution Award 2006 of Institution of Engineers (India)- Orissa State Centre, ISEE Young Scientist Award 2005, etc. He is Fellow of ISEE, IARI, New Delhi and Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development, New Delhi. A total of 304 publications of Dr. Ghosh include 137 papers in national and international journals and six books. For his book on â€œà¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥à¤µà¥€à¤•à¤°à¤£ à¤”à¤° à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤à¥€à¤¯ à¤–à¤¾à¤¦à¥à¤¯ à¤¸à¥à¤°à¤•à¥à¤·à¤¾â€œ- Globalisation and Indian Food Security (ISBN-978-81-910947-0-1), Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar (First Prize) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India conferred by His Excellency President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 14th September 2012. Notable contributions of Dr. Ghosh include development of methodologies for integrated assessment of recommended agricultural water management technologies from multi-layer multi stakeholdersâ€™ perspectives, formulation of impact assessment framework for participatory irrigation management (PIM) reforms, evaluation of an irrigation system from the farmersâ€™ perspectives following fuzzy logic, construction of water user group dynamics index, assessment of irrigation-agriculture-livelihood-poverty links in eastern Indian states, studies on various issues of agricultural extension management, communication, climate change impact and adaptation, diversified farming and rural livelihood. He coordinated many National level trainersâ€™ trainings sponsored by Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India for statesâ€™ line departments, irrigation departments, NGOs officials of different states as well as nine farmersâ€™ trainings each of seven days duration on scaling-up of water productivity at different locations in which more than thousand farmers were trained. He delivered more than hundred invited lectures in farmersâ€™ and trainersâ€™ training programmes. His presence as invited/guest speakers in different forums and events organized by ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, Central and State Government organizations as well as International organizations shows his recognition as an expert in the discipline of agricultural extension and participatory on-farm water management. He has also been involved in many other assignments like external expert in selection committees, editors in editorial committees of professional societyâ€™s journals, reviewer in the national and international journals, etc. He has made significant contributions for advancing the cause of agricultural extension research.

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