Smallholders’ Challenges: Realizing Peri-Urban Opportunities in Bengaluru

Sustainability

Meenakshi Rajeev¹  Christoph Scherrer² 

[1] Centre for Economic Studies and Policy, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru 560072, India;International Center for Development and Decent Work, Universität Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany;

关键词: peri-urban;    non-farm activities;    formal credit;    collateral;    Bengaluru;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su131810160

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Urban expansion creates potential for increased incomes among previously rural smallholders from sources other than traditional agriculture. Harnessing this potential, however, requires investments into agricultural upgrading or non-farm activities. The article addresses the question concerning to what extent these investments are realised in the peri-urban space of Bengaluru. Its answers are based on a review of the literature and extensive field surveys in two differentially developed districts assessing the smallholders’ economic situation in 2019 and as a recall in 2009. Our findings are that only a few smallholders were able to realise the peri-urban opportunities. Household income increased in real terms only by a little, especially from farming. Instead of a traditional farm to non-farm production linkage, surpluses from the non-farm sector were seen to meet the working capital needs of the farm sector. While physical access to formal financial institutions has significantly improved, formal borrowing is dominated by small-sized loans from registered self-help groups or traditional priority sector loans. Only a few households took up non-farm activities as many others failed to obtain sufficient credit and lacked knowledge about remunerative non-farm projects. Overall, rising outlays for education and health services leave little resources for any productive investments.

【 授权许可】

Unknown