An Economic Analysis of Cropping Pattern, Marketing Chains and Food Security Status of Farm Households in Rural-Urban Interface of Bengaluru, India

Abstract

The study was taken in rural-urban interface of Bangalore to examine the participation of households in different marketing chains and production diversification on food insecurity status among selected households. Herfindahl-Hirschman (HH) index was used to estimate the crop diversification in both north and south transect. To analyze the household food security status, Food Security Index (FSI) was employed. The results indicated that, south transect was more crop diversified than north transect and the food security status was also high in south transect compared to north transect, hence crop diversity is having positive influence on household food security status in the study area. Among the different crops cultivated in the study area, percentage of area under ragi was the highest followed by maize in both the transects. In case of both maize and ragi, majority of the farm households sold their produce in the regulated markets. But ragi producers realized higher price (Rs. 2350/q) in farmers market (producer to consumers) and maize producers realized higher price (Rs. 1550/q) in regulated markets. Food security can be enhance through crop diversification and better price realization can be achieved by encouraging to adopt direct marketing or selling farmers produce through regulated markets.