Abstract
Better management practices (BMPs) as a sustainable approach made it attractive for growers to control the provision of pollutants from agricultural activities as well as enhance the financial return. The experiments of cotton production were conducted in four different regions of Punjab in cotton-growing years 2017-2019. The objective of the study was to evaluate the potential impact of BMPs among cotton farmers by rationalizing the use of input resources (viz., seed, fertilizers, pesticides and water). The data were collected from randomly selected adopters of BMPs (n = 400) and non-adopters of BMPs (n = 100) through a well-structured pretested questionnaire using a multistage sampling procedure from four different regions of Punjab province. Descriptive analysis was employing an independent two-sample t-test to evaluate the significant effect of BMPs on the utilization of input resources and profitability of cotton production between adopters and non-adopters of BMPs. The results indicated that adopters of BMPs were efficiently used input resources (at p ≤ 0.001 & p ≤ 0.01) and significantly enhanced the average cotton yield (855.09 kg acre-1) in Punjab, while non-adopters of BMPs had a significantly high cost of production by 11% (35,655 PKR acre-1) and output was lower by 15% (751.70 kg acre-1) under conventional farming for cotton cultivation. The economic analysis revealed that the average gross income gained by adopters of BMPs was significantly high by 11% (72,648 PKR acre-1 at p ≤ 0.001) with the maximum net return of 36% (40,785 PKR acre-1 at p ≤ 0.001) as well as a good B:C (1.28) as compared to non-adopters of BMPs. This study provides useful information about the potential impact of BMPs among cotton farmers even without the extra use of inputs. It is concluded that precision in inputs and management practices with lower input costs can significantly improve cotton productivity leading to uplift the farmers’ profit.
Highlights
In agriculture, environmental sustainability implies good stewardship of the input resources and natural systems (Tittonell, 2014; Sabiha et al, 2016)
Our experiment focused on resource use efficiency and economic analysis of cotton production with an alternative agriculture approach (BMPs) that will reduce undue inputs of inorganic agrochemicals and irrigation water, further, that will make sustainability, socially and economically better cotton production than conventional practices
Our results revealed that input resources such as crop area, land management practices, seed, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation and labor power significantly and positively affect the cotton production in three cropping years (2017-2019) at the project sites
Summary
Environmental sustainability implies good stewardship of the input resources and natural systems (Tittonell, 2014; Sabiha et al, 2016). Achieving economic sustainability in agriculture production remains an overwhelming challenge to researchers, policymakers, development partners, and national governments around the globe (Babu et al, 2020). The conventional agriculture system has a major concern associated with the extensive use of external inputs including seeds, land management practices, agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides & herbicides) and water, which is negatively influencing farmers’ profit and yield (Cristache et al, 2018,). Conventional agriculture poses adverse side effects on the natural environment by deteriorating water and land resources (Lampridi et al, 2019). Environment sustainability and sustainable agriculture both are hooked into each other so improving the input use efficiency can significantly contribute to maintaining sustainability. In Pakistan, cotton production is concentrated mainly in two provinces; Punjab is the leading jas.ccsenet.org
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