The study was conducted in Chickaballapura district of Karnataka, during the year 2015-16 to find out the association between personal and socio-psychological characteristics of farmers with performance of different farming systems adopted by farmers. In Chickaballapura district, two taluks i.e. Sidlaghatta and Chintamanitaluks were purposefully selected for the study, since these taluks are having more diversified farming compared to other taluks. From each taluk, five villages have been selected. From each village, 12 farmers are selected, which include three farmers under FS-1, three farmers under FS-2, three farmers under FS-3 and three farmers under FS-4. Thus, the total sample size from two taluks and 10 villages is 120. It was found that, the association between personal and socio-psychological characteristics with performance of FS-1 farmer, the variables achievement motivation, risk bearing ability and mass media participation had positive and significant association with performance at five per cent level of significance. With FS-2 farmers, the extension participation had positive and significant association with performance at one per cent level of significance. It was found that with FS-3 farmers, risk bearing ability and decision making ability had positive and significant association with performance at one per cent level of significance. With FS-4 farmers, education, farming experience, land holding, cropping intensity, management orientation, risk bearing ability, irrigation intensity, decision making ability, mass media participation and extension participation had positive and significant association with performance at five per cent level of significance. Majority of Ragi farmers perceived uneven rainfall (95.00 %), non-availability of labour (86.66 %), lack of knowledge (80.00 %), high cost of fertilizers (75.00 %) are the major constraints. A good number of dairy farmer's perceived shortage of green fodder and lack of pucca house (92.22 %), high investment (82.22 %) as their major constraints. A great majority of sericulture farmers expressed that lack of knowledge about spacing (86.66 %), lack of irrigation facility (83.33 %) as the major constraints. Horticulture farmers expressed that lack of water for irrigation (93.33 %), interrupted power supply and price fluctuation, high cost of hybrids (90.00 %), as the major constraints.

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A study conducted in Mandya district of Karnataka to examine the livelihood security of farmers practising important farming systems and their relative economic viability. Pandavapura and K.R.Pete talukas were selected from Mandya region. The vital farming systems in each taluk had been recognized after a radical discussion with line department specialists and after discussion with farmers and the major farming systems were decided on from each taluk: that is “paddy+dairy” and “paddy+dairy+horticulture” in K.R. Pete taluk, and “sugarcane+dairy” and “sugarcane+dairy+horticulture” in Pandavapura taluk. For each farming system, 30 respondents were randomly decided, giving an aggregate sample size of 120. A comprehensive measuring scale was developed to measure the livelihood security. Six components of livelihood security specifically food and nutrition security, economic, ecological, social, psychological and physical security have been recognized to assess the livelihood security of farmers. In the case of the farming system "paddy + dairy" social security (63.33%), in the case of the farming system "paddy+ dairy + horticulture" ecological security (70.00%), in the matter of  "sugarcane + dairy" economic security (73.33%) and with regards to "sugarcane + dairy + horticulture" social security (76.66%) become labelled as I rank. The highest benefit-cost ratio was found in the case of "sugarcane + dairy + horticulture” (1:2.62) followed by “sugarcane+dairy” (1:2.47), “sugarcane+dairy+horticulture” (1:2.3) and “paddy+dairy” (1:1.43). Therefore, the sugarcane+dairy+horticulture farming system needs to be popularized via ensuring an assured market for horticulture products and offering a minimum support rate price for sugarcane.