ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF NATURAL AND CONVENTIONAL PADDY FARMING IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

This study evaluates the economic performance of Natural and Conventional paddy farming systems in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Primary data were collected from 80 farmers, comprising 40 natural farming and 40 conventional farming households, through purposive sampling. The study assessed the status of the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme and compared input use, cost of cultivation, returns, resource use efficiency, and production constraints using descriptive statistics, cost concepts, the Cobb Douglas production function, and Garrett’s Ranking Technique. The APCNF programme recorded a compound annual growth rate of 54.74 per cent in farmer participation and 38.74 per cent in area. Natural farming reduced the total cost of cultivation to Rs. 82,312 per hectare compared with Rs. 91,001 under conventional farming. It also produced a higher paddy yield of 60 q/ha and generated net returns of Rs. 104,063 per hectare. Resource use efficiency analysis indicated that seed rate significantly influenced yield under natural farming, whereas both human labour and seed rate were significant under conventional farming. Farmers identified initial yield reduction, price fluctuations, pest and disease incidence, and inadequate technical knowledge as the major constraints. Overall, the findings indicate that natural farming is a profitable and environmentally sustainable alternative for paddy cultivation.