Constraints Faced by Organizations of Organic Farmers: Empirical Evidence from Kerala

In Kerala, the demand for organic agricultural products is high when compared to its supply. Therefore, the relevance of organic farming and its possibilities are very high in the state. In this milieu, farmers and organizations that follow organic agricultural patterns play a decisive role in determining the quality of agricultural production in the state. The empirical research in this area indicates that organic farming has various constraints in its level of application. However, previous research has seldom enquired the hurdles faced by organic farmers and their organizations in the state. More specifically, the constraints encountered by farming organizations in implementing organic methods and patterns in the production of crops are yet to be explored in the state. As a scientific study, the present paper aims to explore and identify the constraints of the organic farming organizations in Kerala. To accomplish this goal, the present study has used both quantitative and qualitative methods. From the analyses, the study has identified three major interrelated but distinct domains of constraints at different levels of production. They are: - (1) leadership and management constraints; (2) financial constraints and (3) marketing constraints. These findings imply that farming organizations should be receptive and responsive to mutating systems of agriculture economy. Based on the research findings, the paper argues that the government should provide awareness mechanisms and incentive systems to support these organizations and thereby to improve organic culture of cultivation in the state.