ANNOUNCEMENTS
Post-1947, agricultural policies in India focused on increasing yields through mechanization, chemical fertilizers, and High-Yielding Varieties (HYV) of seeds. The Green Revolution, introduced in Haryana, significantly boosted productivity, though its benefits were unevenly distributed, raising concerns about environmental sustainability due to unsustainable farming practices. This led to a shift towards ecological sustainability, with policies promoting water conservation, organic farming, and digital agriculture. By the 1990s, the over-reliance on wheat and rice prompted government initiatives to encourage crop diversification. In the 2000s, policies further emphasized organic farming, diversification, and infrastructure development. However, farmers face challenges in adopting organic and natural farming methods, such as low yields, small landholdings, limited biomass availability, lack of awareness, insufficient financial support, and inadequate market infrastructure. The distribution of costs and benefits remains uneven, influenced by disparities in land access, resources, and technology. Additionally, social inequalities, gendered power structures, and rural migration play a role in agricultural transitions. Farming practices across regions vary due to economic, political, social, and ecological factors, and there are ongoing struggles between different visions of agricultural sustainability. Norms, values, and socio-political dynamics significantly affect farmers' adoption of new practices. Macro-level analysis of these transitions is complex, as not all households fully embrace alternative farming practices. Research focuses on understanding the motivations and experiences of farmers transitioning to alternative farming methods in rural Haryana, examining the role of household members in decision-making about farming practices and land use, and analysing how these transitions impact the decision-making processes and social dynamics within farming households using primary survey being conducted across 3 different villages.
