Not AvailableLow productivity and cultivation of low value crops in the Indian semi-arid tropics (SAT) is the main cause for
poor farm-based livelihoods. Poverty leading to low risktaking ability of farmers and production related
constraints like widespread multi-nutrient deficiencies are major stumbling blocks for shifting to high value
agriculture. Realizing the need to support povertyentrapped smallholders to connect to markets, the
government of Karnataka state in India supported market-led shift to high value agriculture through a
consortium of technical institutions and convergence of agricultural schemes. New widespread deficiencies of
secondary and micronutrients like sulfur (52% farms), zinc (55%) and boron (62%) along with earlier known
deficiencies of nitrogen (52%) and phosphorus (41%) were identified as main constraints for realizing
productivity potential and a threat for sustainability. Policy supported initiative during 2011/12 showed more
economic returns with diversified high value crops and strengthened 0.23 million smallholders. On-farm
evaluations of soil test-based nutrient balancing to tomato, okra, brinjal, chilies, onion, cabbage and beans
increased productivity by 5 to 58% over the farmers’ practice of adding macronutrients only. Small additional
cost (` 770 to 1520 per ha) of balanced nutrition significantly increased additional benefits (` 5300 to
74,000 per ha) with fairly high cost-benefit ratio (1:4 to 1:82). Substantial returns enhanced risk-taking ability of
smallholders to manage productivity constraints in future by themselves. Results showed that initial little
investments in science and market-led social assistance programs should be a way forward for mainstreaming
poverty-entrapped smallholders in other parts of SAT.Not Availabl
