Technological Constraint Analysis of Sustainability of Farming Systems

Abstract

Agricultural sustainability in the semi-arid tropics of India is increasingly threatened by technological, ecological, and socio-economic constraints. This study investigates the technological barriers hindering the sustainability of farming systems in Telangana State, India. Using an ex-post-facto research design, data were collected from 360 farmers through a multi-stage sampling method across three agro-climatic zones, i.e., Northern, Central, and Southern, representing varying irrigation scenarios. The Henry Garrett ranking technique was employed to analyse the relative importance of perceived technological constraints. The findings reveal that "Lack of skills in scientific crop and livestock management" is the primary constraint. This is followed by "Low adoption of modern farm mechanization" and "Poor skills in early identification and treatment of pest complexes". Constraints such as insufficient knowledge of integrated nutrient management (INM) and limited exposure to climate-resilient practices were also significant. This study evaluated strategies for overcoming these constraints. The findings reveal that establishing mobile diagnostic clinics ranked highest, followed by farmer field schools and custom hiring centres. Promoting composting and climate-smart pilot trials is essential for enhancing farm productivity and resilience. The analysis suggests that the complexity of modern agricultural inputs and the high cost of technology, coupled with fragmented extension outreach, create a significant "knowledge-action gap". To enhance sustainability, the study recommends adopting Situation-Based Extension with Participatory Approaches, restructuring financial support schemes such as Rythu Bandhu to incentivise climate-resilient practices, and strengthening custom hiring centres for mechanisation. Promoting Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) is identified as a vital strategy for income diversification and resource recycling in dryland tracts.