“A Comparative Assessment of the Agronomic and Economic Performance of Finger Millet and Cotton Cultivation in Odisha”

PRADIP KUMAR PRADHAN; Gaurab Purohit

“A Comparative Assessment of the Agronomic and Economic Performance of Finger Millet and Cotton Cultivation in Odisha”

Author(s)	Dr. PRADIP KUMAR PRADHAN, Mr. Gaurab Purohit
Country	India
Abstract	Finger millet and cotton crop are most important crops in Odisha due to their significance in rural livelihood, especially in rainfed area. This study intends to appraise the interrelationship among various factors such as productivity, livelihood and sustainability in rainfed regions of the districts of south Odisha. Using a concoction of field surveys, crop area assessment, yield assessments, and household-level socio-economic data, this study investigates the comparative performance of finger millet (ragi) and cotton crops representing subsistence and commercial farming systems respectively. The finger millet is traditionally viewed as an insignificant crop earlier, now plays a significant role in ensuring food security, enriched nutritional value, resilience to climatic variability, and low input dependency in the rain-fed area. Its agronomic performance indicates the tolerance to unpredictable rainfall and trivial soils, making it appropriate for sustainable cultivation. On the other hand, cotton crop shows higher market potential and lucrative but exhibits vulnerability to climatic oscillations and pest attacks, leading to larger production risks and dependency on external inputs. From analysis of the socio-economic condition, it is revealed that the cotton farmers achieve higher gross returns but their profitability and net income are very much unstable due to high input and maintenance cost and uncertain market prices. Conversely, finger millet cultivators maintain more steady livelihoods, supported by localised seed systems and government procurement schemes. Basically, due to launch of OMM/SAA the finger-millet become the most important crop in Odisha with better livelihood. This study also emphasises on the importance of balancing economic profits with ecological stability by encouraging integrated crop planning, soil conservation practices, and value-chain interventions for both crops. Overall, this research suggests that enhancing the productivity and market value of finger millet (ragi), alongside the sustainable intensification of cotton under rainfed conditions, can strengthen the rural resilience and boost inclusive agricultural development in Odisha.
Keywords	Finger millet (Ragi), Cotton, crop, livelihood, productivity.
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-15

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“A Comparative Assessment of the Agronomic and Economic Performance of Finger Millet and Cotton Cultivation in Odisha”

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