An Exploratory Study on Document the Major Income Risk Encountered by the Small and Marginal Farmers in Irrigated Agro-Ecosystem of Tamil Nadu

The study proposes to assess the major risks encountered by the small and marginal farmers in the irrigated agro-ecosystem of Tamil Nadu with help of a risk matrix. A total of 240 respondents were selected for this study which consists of 80 small and marginal farmers each from three districts representing three irrigation systems viz., tank irrigation (Sivagangai district), cannel irrigation (Thiruvarur district) and well irrigation (Namakkal district) respectively. There are 34 risks identified in these irrigation systems, out of which 20 risks were found to be plotted between catastrophic to critical categories. In that, five risks viz., delay in the release of water in cannel/tank and water scarcity, lower than the cost of production, insufficient revenues to cover farm operational expenses, less insurance claim/coverage and late disbursement of loan from cooperative society were assessed as the catastrophic risks encountered by the small and marginal farmers in the irrigated agro-ecosystem of Tamil Nadu. This research study helps the policy-makers to utilize the above said findings and to develop the risk management strategies for the major risk faced by the small and marginal farmers in irrigated agro-ecosystem of Tamil Nadu.