Comparative Assessment of Farmers’ Livelihood Strategies by Optimizing Resource Use in Farming Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of food crop farmers and formulate alternative farm plans for improving the farm economy that will consequently positively impact their livelihood strategies. The study compared and determined the best production plan and resource allocation among food crop farmers. Livelihood strategies reflect the range and combinations of activities and alternatives people make to achieve goals and livelihoods. Livelihood strategies evolve according to implicit and/or explicit decision-making foundation on livelihood's internal and external verification. The study was conducted in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, which comprises of 8 blocks. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed in selecting respondents in this State. Descriptive statistics and Sen's Multi-Objective Programming (MOP) Model were used to analyze the data. This study found that males dominated farming activities in the study area, with the majority of them being small and marginal farmers in their forties. The study also revealed that the majority of respondents are married with small families and have years of farming experience. The multiple objective programming results reveal that the farmers in the study area were already working close to the efficiency level as there is only a marginal variation between the existing and the alternative suggested plan. This study will help and encourage extension workers to educate farmers about allocating critical resources and managerial skills that will enable farmers to plan and evaluate commercial activities on farms for a better standard of living.