Reduction in the area of little millet and crop replaced in place of little millet in Haveri district of Karnataka

Abstract

The focus of the study was to understand the reasons for the reduction in the area of little millet (Panicum miliare) as well as crop in place of little millet in Haveri district of Karnataka during 2011-12. The stratified sampling technique was employed to select 120 respondents comprising equal number of men and women farmers from four villages of Haveri district of Karnataka. The primary data required for the study was obtained through personal interview method using pre-tested schedule prepared for the purpose. Study revealed that 98.33 per cent of respondents expressed that low economic returns associated with little millet was the major reason for reduction in the area of little millet followed by rain interrupts the entire harvesting season of the crop (91.67%), severe losses of grains and fodder due to rain (91.67%), low yield (88.33%), shifting to other crops (83.33%), labour intensive and drudgery involved in processing of little millet (56.67%). Further, it was observed that less than fifty per cent of respondents expressed that easy availability of rice and wheat in PDS system (48.33%) followed by treating as poor man’s crop and food (38.33%), fragmentation of land holding (30.0%) and no proper place to grow these crops (15.00%) are the reasons for reduction in the area. The overall results showed that 90.00 per cent of farmers were cultivating cotton crop in place of millet followed by maize (82.50%), groundnut (55.83%) and soybean (19.17%).