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economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

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It can be seen from the survey data presented in the table 7.1 that the<br />

<strong>farm</strong>ers underst<strong>and</strong> OFD in different ways. For some. OrD implies just<br />

removing shrubs <strong>and</strong> bushes in the fields (17 %). More than <strong>on</strong>e fourth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

<strong>farm</strong>ers understood it as an integrated process. which includes removing shrubs<br />

<strong>and</strong> bushes. levelling the field. providing uni<strong>for</strong>m slope to the plot <strong>and</strong> providing<br />

drainage channels. What is noteworthy is that 25 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <strong>farm</strong>ers are<br />

a\\are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the need <strong>for</strong> <strong>on</strong>-<strong>farm</strong> drainage. This is \'ery important to avoid adverse<br />

effects <strong>on</strong> soil. Furthermore. 26 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the tail-end <strong>farm</strong>ers feel the need <strong>for</strong><br />

providing drainage. Perhaps. they succumb to the problem <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seepage caused by<br />

the unlined canals. There<strong>for</strong>e. they realise that <strong>on</strong>-<strong>farm</strong> drainage is a priority in<br />

the process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> l<strong>and</strong> levelling <strong>and</strong> shaping. What is surprising is Ihal 97 per cent<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <strong>farm</strong>ers do not realise the importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> l<strong>and</strong> survey be<strong>for</strong>e undertaking<br />

lewlllng operati<strong>on</strong>s. to know the exact slope it requires <strong>and</strong> other related aspects<br />

c<strong>on</strong>cerned with spacing <strong>and</strong> thickness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the bunds. The apparent neglect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> l<strong>and</strong><br />

survey be<strong>for</strong>e levelling can be explained in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the small size <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

operati<strong>on</strong>al holdings. which disinduce the <strong>farm</strong>ers to undertake any additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />

investment <strong>for</strong> l<strong>and</strong> <strong>development</strong>. Thus. it may be noted that the OFD works<br />

d<strong>on</strong>e by the <strong>farm</strong>ers even in the limited manner are not scientific <strong>and</strong> may not<br />

sustai n <strong>for</strong> l<strong>on</strong>g.<br />

Another questi<strong>on</strong> was posed to the <strong>farm</strong>ers to know what kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefits<br />

th..:\ thought that OF]) would enahle them to realise The resp<strong>on</strong>ses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

<strong>farm</strong>..:rs have hecn prcs..:nted In tahle 7.2. The major benefits expected or realised<br />

hy th..: <strong>farm</strong>ers arc (i) OF]) facilitates uni<strong>for</strong>m spread <strong>and</strong> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> water to<br />

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