COVID-19 and Its Effect on Natural Capital of Small and Marginal Farmers

Aim: The main aim of this research is to study COVID-19 effect on natural capital of small and marginal farmers.

Study Design: Ex post facto research design.

Place and Duration of Study: North western zone of Tamil Nadu includes Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem and Namakkal districts, India.

Two years (2021-2022).

Methodology: From the selected north western zone of Tamil Nadu, 320 respondents were purposively selected for conducting the study. Cochran sample size estimation used for the study to determine the sample size of the respondents. Due to its higher natural connectivity and diverse crop cultivation, north western zone of Tamil Nadu has been purposively selected for the district. Data were collected from small and marginal farmers during COVID-19 pandemic. Paper-Pencil survey method was used to collect data from the farmers. Paired t-test and eta squared statistic was computed to determine the intense of COVID-19 pandemic on small and marginal farmers. A comparative analysis was made among farmers before as well as during COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Three fifth of the respondents (60.30%) fall under 25 to 50 per cent proportion of natural capital whereas above one third of the respondents (36.90%) comes under the category of below 25 per cent proportion of natural capital and a very meager amount of the respondents (2.80%) fall under the proportion of 50 to 75 per cent. None of the respondents comes under the category of 75 to 100 per cent proportion of natural capital. During COVID-19 pandemic, slightly more than half of the respondents (53.10%) belongs to 25 to 50 per cent proportion followed by below quadrant proportion (45.60%). Paired t-test results (t value: 12.905, P-value: <0.001) shows that there was a statistically significant difference in the overall natural capital of small and marginal farmers when before COVID-19 pandemic compared with during COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic shows larger effect (eta squared value= 0.343) on natural capital of small and marginal farmers. Strategies like diverse crop cultivation, a plan to value added products of perishable produce or a tie up with manufacturing industries for sale and higher livestock possession with fullest use of integrated resources to be followed by small and marginal farmers to ensure sustainable maintenance of natural resources.