IMPACTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTS ON MARIGOLD FLORICULTURE IN RANAGHAT-Ⅱ, INDIA

摘要

Marigold floriculture is the main source and livelihood for farmers in almost all parts of the rural world. This flower grows in all tropical regions of the countries from temperate regions. This cultivation is widespread in Ranaghat-Ⅱ block of Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Flower production is one of the main tools of the farmers here. This is where we want to look at exactly how the socioeconomic indicators affect marigold floriculture. For this, a total of 400 farmers from 105 villages and periphery areas of the census and statutory towns in this entire block have been selected for the questionnaire survey of socioeconomic conditions of farmers during 2019. These indicators are marigold cultivation lands (MCL), average marigold production (AMP), total income (TI), lands under cultivation (LUC), land purchase or lease(LP), family member (FM), education (E), mobile (M), internet (I), expensive goods (EG), electricity (El), food consumption (FC), cloth expenditure (CE), health expenditure (HE), working days (WD), housing (H), toilet (T), furniture (F), and debt (D). All socioeconomic conditions define marigold floriculture or marigold income (MI). Our results of multiple linear regression exhibit that beside MCL (0.888) and AMP (0.733), TI (0.632), LUC (0.659), H (0.612), T (0.612), F (0.607) and EG (0.568) have a strong positive effect on marigold income than other socioeconomic indicators. Although the socioeconomic indicators are auto-correlated, the Residual statistics prove overall indicators have a strong linear positive correlation to marigold floriculture and these are well distributed. Farmers have been practising such input-intensive marigold cultivation to a great degree than traditional cultivation like paddy, jute, etc. because it serves better livelihood. But if this cultivation continues day after day, the balance of both natural and socio-economic environment will be lost. So to preserve sustainable marigold floriculture and society, the relevant policies and future research topics are suggested.