Ensuring sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth of Indian smallholder farmers through organic farming: a systematic literature review

In the contemporary era, chemical-based farming provides maximum production for short-term fulfillment of human needs but imposes serious negative implications on the environment, ecology, livelihoods, and growth of smallholder farmers. To reduce environmental degradation, soil erosion, and agroecological biodiversity loss, organic farming practices have emerged as a slogan in India to ensure the inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods of smallholder farmers. However, there is a dearth of systematic reviews that seek to answer how smallholder and marginal farmers in India foster inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods by practicing organic farming. Thus, we undertake this study to delve into the impact of organic farming on fostering sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth for these farmers. To facilitate the study objective, we performed a systematic literature review by using the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” protocol of the past decade. The findings of our study reveal that organic farming ensures sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth for Indian smallholders. Reduced input costs increase their profit margin, and premium prices for their organic products enhance their inclusive growth and economic well-being. However, owing to its major constraints, such as lack of domestic market facilities, high labour inputs, and lower yields farmers may or may not realize profit through this farming while cultivating for commercial purposes. The findings and the major gaps identified in this review will certainly provide a way forward for effective policy formulations and an avenue for future research.