Cultivating Holistic Change in Kerala: Assessing the Impact of Farmers' Market Participation on Agricultural Practices, Social Networks, and Economic Outcomes
Keywords:
Farmers’ markets, Agricultural practices, Social status, Economic statusAbstract
Farmers markets act as powerful catalysts for transforming agricultural practices, strengthening local communities, and boosting the financial stability of member farmers. By cutting out intermediaries, these markets create a direct loop between food producers and consumers that rewrites traditional supply chain dynamics. Farmers' Market provides diverse agriculture marketing infrastructure, amenities, and services to farmers in order to improve their economic and social position. These Markets have influenced farmers to employ a range of strategies in their agricultural practices to boost yield and productivity. As a result, it is critical to investigate the changes brought about by the Farmers' Markets particularly the changes in agricultural practices as well as changes in the social and economic status of the farmers.
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