Assessment of Agricultural Productivity and Constraints Faced by Smallholder Farmers in Kalaburagi District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the determinants of food security status among women farmers in rural Karnataka, India. The study used a sample size of 1200 farmers, of which 45% were female. The study found that female farmers faced significant constraints in terms of access to inputs, market information, and credit, which impacted their food security status. The study also found that female farmers faced gender-related constraints, such as limited mobility due to social norms, limited access to education and training, and limited decision-making power in the household. These gender-related constraints further affected their access to resources and their food security status. The study highlights the importance of addressing these gender-related constraints and providing female farmers with equal access to resources and services to improve their food security status. Such efforts can be made by increasing women's access to credit, extension services, and training opportunities, and by promoting women's participation in decision-making at all levels of the agricultural value chain. Furthermore, policies aimed at improving women's mobility, including access to transportation and infrastructure, can also contribute to enhancing their access to resources.

Keywords: Agricultural productivity; smallholder farmers; Kalaburagi district; Karnataka; India.