Development of Scheduled Caste Farmers through Integrated Farming System in Bangalore Rural District, India

The study was conducted in Bengaluru Rural district of Karnataka State, a total sample of 275 respondents was selected for the study and the data was collected by using pretested structured interview schedule and analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. It was observed that, the livelihood security of the respondents under ‘highly satisfied’ category was improved from 23.64 per cent from the bench mark data to 38.18 per cent. In ‘less satisfied’ category it was decreased to 32.73 per cent from 41.82 per cent after implementation of the project. Out of seven dimensions of livelihood security, maximum increase was noticed in employment security (69.84%) followed by ecological security (60.96%), living amenities (52.39%), economic efficiency (51.76 %), coping strategies against stress (45.35%), assets (37.13 %) and social equitability (28.03%) and overall livelihood security increased by 48.17 per cent after implementation of the project. The personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the beneficiaries; land holding, cropping pattern, livestock possession, innovativeness, mass media exposure, management orientation, level of aspiration, training undergone, participation in development programme, access to extension personnel and access to resources exhibited positive and significant relationship with livelihood security.The R2 value of 0.324 indicated that all 18 variables had contributed to the tune of 32.40 per cent of variation in Livelihood Security of respondents. Hence, the concerned development departments should promote and strengthen the IFS activities to enhance the livelihood security of resource poor framers. The positive and significantly related characteristics needs to be considered while selecting the farmers for IFS programs to enhance their livelihood security.