Characterization and impact of organic vis-à-vis conventional farming systems in Jammu District

The present study was aimed to characterize the status of organic and conventional farming practices and their impacts on livelihoods in the district of Jammu. A total of 120 farmers were selected using multistage random sampling with 60 practicing organic farming and 60 practicing conventional farming. The impact of organic farming on income generation and employment creation among farmers was evaluated using the matching technique. The results showed that the major farming systems identified in the region were C-H-D and C-D systems. The impact assessment using PSM revealed that organic cultivation had more employment generation opportunities and higher net income compared to conventional farming. Additionally, a constraint-facing index (CFI) indicated that low market prices for output were major constraints for both practices followed by the non-availability of quality input for organic growers and high price of fertilizers for conventional farmers. The study suggested that policymakers should address these constraints in order to promote the adoption of organic agriculture on a large scale and improve farmers’ livelihoods.