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ThesisItem Open Access EVALUATION OF SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS’ LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES, CHANGING TRENDS AND PREFERENCES FOR INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES FOR FUTURE IN ASSAM(2021) Phukan, Pallabi; Barman, UtpalRural livelihood in India is complex, involving multiple activities and strategies. Agriculture is an integral part of daily life on the Indian subcontinent, with 82 per cent of farmers being small. Despite occupying only 44% of arable land, small farms are the country's primary food and nutritional security providers. Even so, they lack access to markets and technology. Small and marginal families are contributing more to the national food supply and agricultural GDP; they account for more than half of the hungry and poor. Small and marginal farmers lack access to capital and inputs. This has hampered their competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. The high-value segment of the agricultural sector is expected to benefit smallholders more than cereals because it requires more labour and yields more than cereals. Assam's agriculture is a mix of peasant and tenant farming, with most farmers being marginal (62.2%) or small (20.9%). Various economic factors (e.g., fragmented land) contribute to the state's lagging agricultural sector. Small and marginal farmers earn between Rs. 35,000/- and 40,000/- per year. Many farmers in Assam lacked collateral due to a lack of proper land inheritance documentation and inadequate land (due to land fragmentation). Already Assamese farmers are reluctant to adopt farming as a source of livelihood for small and marginal farmers. Rural youth are no longer interested in farming as a source of livelihood. In reality, most farmers in Assam own less than two acres of land. Therefore, the present study has been proposed to be undertaken to find out the small and marginal farmers' livelihood options and perceived profitable agricultural activities in future; thereby, one can prepare the right strategy to strengthen the livelihood of small and marginal farmers with following objectives: 1. To assess livelihood strategies pursued by small and marginal farmers in the study area. 2. To describe changing trends of livelihood strategies among small and marginal farmers in the study area. 3. To determine the choice of income-generating activities for future livelihood strategies. 4. To identify the determinants of small and marginal farmers' choices of livelihood strategies. The respondents were initially chosen using a random sampling technique. However, due to the lockdown and pandemic situation surrounding Covid-19, the survey could not begin on time or as planned. Data collection was conducted using a flexible sampling strategy in which final respondents from the villages were randomly selected. However, during the pandemic, various international organisations such as the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Food Policy Research Institute conducted surveys without a sampling plan. They note that it is impossible to follow a proper sampling design during pandemic situations. It surveyed a total of 300 farmers and collected data using a personal interview technique with a structured schedule. Data analysis was conducted using appropriate statistical tools. About 40.00 per cent of the respondents were under the age group 44-53 years. In the case of marital status, family type, Job card, BPL card, holding of bank account, access to market, access to credit, member of social organisation, and SHGs, there was a significant association between 2010 and 2020. As the income was increasing in 2020 as compared to 2010, but price index was 95.63%. Result of the study also evidenced that marginal farmers were more in positive trend in respect of all independent variables as compared to the small farmers. It was observed that the non-farm sector contributed more to the annual income than the farm sector. The majority (17.33%) of the respondents preferred ‘field crops+ vegetable cultivation+ piggery’ as their current livelihood strategy. Though livelihood diversification had occurred, there was no prominent/ dominant livelihood strategy, and most of them were moderately diversified. The study also asserted a significant association of education, job card, and BPL card with the extent of livelihood diversification. In the case of annual income and operational land holding, there was a significant relationship with the extent of diversification. Likewise, in changing trends of small and marginal farmers' livelihood diversification, mostly in marginal farmers, there was an increasingly positive trend concerning all independent variables. It was also noticed that livelihood diversification occurred but at an almost equal level. All the respondents (100%) wanted alternate livelihood options if they got a second chance. About 14.33 per cent of respondents preferred 'paddy+ fishery+ vegetable cultivation' as their livelihood option and ranked I. However, it was indicated from the study that the livestock sector was selected as their livelihood option, where 80.00 per cent of respondents preferred fishery as their livelihood option. Pareto chart analysis identified the determinants that were responsible for selection of fishery, vegetable cultivation, piggery, and paddy as their livelihood options. Mostly 5-6 determinants like 47 years, Rs 40,000/-, up to primary passed and up to HSLC passed, 0.01-0.04 ha, 1.00-2.00 ha, access to credit, migration, were responsible in selection livelihood option. The study discovered that land size is almost similar in both the year i.e., 2010 and 2020 and they realized that fragmented land would not increase their income. In last ten years farmers were living in a joint family to intake their land holding and making it as a livelihood strategy. Although the income was increasing but according to the price index income is less in true sense. The findings also reported that livelihood diversification had occurred but there was no prominent strategy was followed till date. The study was conducted in micro level which had identified significant outcomes and some differences in livelihood activities among marginal and small farmers were found. As a result, the research suggests that policymakers of government further would go for more micro level study would help to develop different policies for small and marginal farmers. The result asserted that most of the farmers preferred livestock sector along with the farm sector, so emphasis should be given to livestock so that it can improve the livelihood of small and marginal farmers of Assam.
