Factors Influencing the Adoption of Natural Farming: An Economic, Sociological and Environmental Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of natural farming among farmers in selected districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. Utilizing a multistage random sampling approach, 384 farmers practicing natural farming were surveyed to analyze demographic, economic, sociological, and environmental factors. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in economic factors across age group groups (F = 3.495, p = 0.004) and income levels (Welch’s test, p = 0.000), with older farmers (51-60 years, M = 2.68) and higher income farmers (M = 2.75) showing greater adoption. Sociological factors differed significantly by gender (F = 5.211, p = 0.001), while environmental factors showed gender based differences (Welch’s test, p = 0.000). This study addresses a key research gap by providing region-specific insights from Himachal Pradesh, a leading area for policy experimentation in natural farming, while integrating demographic, economic, sociological, and environmental dimensions through a robust theoretical and statistical framework. The findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to promote sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to environmental conservation and economic resilience. Policy implications and future research directions are discussed to enhance the scalability of natural farming.