Contribution of Family Labour in Mixed Farming System

Abstract

Indian economy largely depends on the agriculture. Agriculture is the main source of income in the nation as most of the people choose their livelihood from agriculture. But this source of income is under threat as agriculture has become very risky due to extreme climate changes and highly volatile agricultural markets. Mixed farming system is one way of handling such problems because it provides better income returns to farm owners as well as higher productivity. Mixed farming is defined as a system of farming in which both crop and livestock farming are combined for the purpose of meeting family requirements and profiting from both enterprises. The case for integrating these two is based on the premises that bye –products from the two systems are used on the same farm. Mixed farming system is helpful in decreasing the cost of production per unit area, increasing income and productivity and reducing the risk of farmers. The contribution of family labour in these farming systems cannot be neglected. Mixed family farms produce almost half of the world food. Increasing food supply in developing countries requires increasing productivity of both land and farmers’ labour as key to increase household income, food security and reduce poverty. So the present study focuses on contribution of family labour in mixed farming system and gender wise comparison of family labour towards mixed farming. From the study it can be concluded that mixed farming system is highly dependent on family labour. So that mixed farming can also be called as family farming. The mixed farming is a farming system which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour both women’s and men’s. The family and farm are linked and can be concluded that family labour is critical resource of mixed farming system.