Comparative Economics and Determinants of Maize Natural Farming: Evidence from North Eastern Hill Region of India

Abstract

Maize is one of the important crops cultivated in Northeastern Hill Region (NEHR). Therefore, this study made an attempt to assesses the comparative economics and determinants influencing the adoption of natural maize farming system in the of NEHR. Data were collected from 140 farmers (80 practicing natural farming and 60 practicing conventional farming) from Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya during 2023–24 through structured interviews using the snowball sampling method. Analytical tools included cost–return analysis, benefit–cost ratio (BCR), unpaired t-tests to compare profitability and logit regression models to and identify the socioeconomic and farm-level factors affecting adoption of natural farming. Results revealed that while natural farming reduced the cost of cultivation by 21.25 per cent (₹34,632/ha vs. ₹43,977/ha), it also recorded slightly lower yields (2,249 kg/ha vs. 2,425 kg/ha) compared to conventional farming. Despite this, natural farming achieved higher net returns (₹3,123/ha more) and a higher BC Ratio (2.14 vs. 1.83), indicating better economic efficiency. Labour intensity was higher under natural systems due to the reliance on manual operations and organic inputs. Logit regression analysis showed that gender, household size, family labour availability, and cultivation cost positively influenced the adoption of natural farming, while larger farm size and dependency on hired labour reduced adoption likelihood. This suggests that natural maize farming in NEHR is more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, offering economic resilience for smallholders despite moderate yield reductions. However, enhancing productivity through training, quality input support, and market incentives is essential for widespread adoption and long-term sustainability.