Farmer led gross root level entrepreneurial initiatives for sustainable sugarcane production system in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The major objective of the study was to explore the rural entrepreneurial initiatives and its socio- economic impact among the sugarcane farmers across Tamil Nadu. Exploratory surveys, Focused Group Discussions (FDGs) and case study methods have been adopted. A total of seven successful entrepreneurial activities initiated by cane farmers, across different districts of Tamil Nadu were selected, purposively. The study revealed that entrepreneurial initiatives accomplished the needs of farmers and these either were developed by farmers themselves or with collaboration of sugar factories. Among seven entrepreneurial initiatives; ‘two wheeler sprayer’, ‘tractor mounted sprayer’, ‘trichogramma production’ and ‘Agricultural Service Provider (ASP)’ were initiated by the sugar factories under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) in participatory mode. The other initiatives viz., organic jaggery powder and trash based vermi-compost production were initiated by farmers themselves. Budchip settling production was practiced by individual farmers as well as promoted by factories in participatory mode. It is also found that all seven entrepreneurial initiatives are profitable and sustainable. Further, the study found that the production cost for 1 cc trichogramma is Rs. 16 and selling cost is Rs. 23/cc, thus farmer getting a net profit of Rs. 7/cc of Trico card. In case of budchip settling production, total cost incurred for production of one settling is around 60-85 paisa. Selling cost of one-month old settling is Rs. 1.25. Thus, a farmer gains a net profit of 40 paisa per settling.