Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
Dr. Ch Srilatha

Abstract:
The present study is an effort to analyze the possibilities and prospects of increasing the employment and net farm income by better resource allocation through optimum enterprise system. Somasila command area was purposively selected for the present study, as it is one of the agriculturally progressive command area of Andhra Pradesh. A multistage stratified purposive cum random sampling procedure was adopted to the present study. The entire command area divided into three regions viz., head, middle and tail regions. From each region first two mandals with maximum command area were purposively selected. From each mandal three villages were selected and that total number of villages chosen were 12. The number of farmers selected from each village was ten and that total number of farmers selected for purpose of present study was 120. Linear programming was used to develop optimum plans. A total of twenty-four optimum plans were developed for head, middle and tail regions and farms of Somasila Project command area. The results of the study shown that there exists sub-optimal allocation of resources in the existing plans of small and large farmers. The process of optimization under different water supply conditions resulted in the improvement in the employment and net farm returns of both the categories of farmers in the study area. However, the effect of irrigation water on employment, net farm income and other inputs was constantly decreased by decreasing water availability. It is also evident that the decline in the employment, net farm returns and use of other inputs were more pronounced on both the categories of farms of the three regions when water availability was reduced by 30 per cent.