Enhancing tribal farmers’ income through technological intervention: A case study from car Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Abstract

This study demonstrates the impact of customized technological intervention on the income, livelihood and dietary pattern of tribal households of Car Nicobar Island. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nicobar District has adopted a Nicobari tribal farmer in 2016–17 who was practicing traditional tuhet system of subsistence farming and guided him with technological know-how and do-how of vegetable cultivation. In a span of 4 years, the farmer has brought 4,550 m2 of his hitherto fallow land of 2 ha under vegetable cultivation. By incorporating 8 to 15 vegetable crops, the diversification index of the farm increased from 0.58 to 0.77. Even as the acreage under high value vegetables increased, he simultaneously accommodated other crops in minor proportions to tide over production and marketing risks. Thus, through area expansion, technological adoption, diversified cropping pattern, efficient resource management and tactical marketing, the farmer's gross income has increased 5.5 times from ₹93,561 to ₹5,15,935 while the net income has increased almost 12 times from ₹36,711 to ₹4,28,872. Therefore, it is imperative to support the earnest efforts of tribal farmers to increase the vegetable production in this part of the Islands by lending necessary Institutional support.