Constraints in Popularizing Nutri-Sensitive Agriculture in Home Gardens of Kerala: A Regional Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and prioritize the key constraints hindering the adoption of Nutri-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) in home gardens across Kerala. An ex-post facto research design was used, and data were collected from 180 farm households in Kasaragod, Thrissur, and Thiruvananthapuram using a multistage random sampling method. A structured, pre-tested interview schedule gathered information on twenty potential constraints categorized under ecological, economic, institutional, and socio-personal domains, which were ranked using Garrett’s ranking technique. The findings revealed notable regional variations. In Kasaragod, lack of financial support (mean score 53.98) and climatic variability (53.35) were most critical; in Thrissur, wild animal attacks (72.77) and climatic stress (58.25) prevailed; and in Thiruvananthapuram, financial constraints (65.18), climatic variability (64.85), and land fragmentation (64.37) were most severe. Farmers’ interest in adopting NSA may vary depending on income from other crops, highlighting that the adoption of nutrition-sensitive practices is context-specific. At the state level, lack of financial support (58.94), climatic variability (58.82), and wild animal menace (57.26) were identified as top constraints, while socio-personal factors such as literacy, irrigation, and family support were less influential. The study emphasizes the role of ecological pressures, financial barriers, and knowledge gaps in hindering NSA adoption, and recommends region-specific interventions, including irrigation support in the north, wildlife management in the central region, and land-use planning in the south, alongside statewide efforts to improve credit access, reduce input costs, and promote climate-resilient farming practices. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, extension workers, and researchers to strengthen home gardens and support nutrition-sensitive farming across Kerala.