Adoption of the Improved Practices in the Integrated Farming System among Tribal Farmers in Manipur

AbstractThe adoption of integrated framing systems is a critical factor in the sustainable development of agricultural practices. This study explores the Adoption Index among male and female tribal respondents, with a focus on a specific Integrated Farming System. Data were collected through personal interviews with 320 respondents, consisting of 160 male respondents and female respondents. An Adoption Index was created to assess the degree of adoption for improved practices in the Integrated Farming System among tribal farmers in Manipur. The natural ecosystems and their resources influence and align the indigenous people’s way of life. Tribal people are believed to live in ‘traditional’ civilizations with ‘Indigenous’ traditions like shifting cultivation, and as such the Slope Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) model of IFS was adopted to mitigate the shifting cultivation among the tribal farmers of Manipur. Tribal people are said to occupy distant hills and forest areas. According to the study’s findings, male respondents have a greater extent of adoption for IFS than female respondents, with an Adoption Index of 79.14 for male respondents, and for female respondents, the Adoption Index was 59.29. The results highlight the clear gender-based variations in the adoption of different agricultural practices within the integrated framing system. Understanding these differences is crucial for tailoring interventions and support mechanisms to promote equitable and sustainable agricultural development.