LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION OF MUGA AND NON MUGA REARERS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN MAJULI DISTRICT OF ASSAM
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Date
2019-07
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Publisher
AAU, Jorhat
Abstract
Muga is famous as golden silk, and it has the potentiality to provide substantial
income to farmers. However, it was observed that in the same locality all farmers are not
adopting muga as an income-generating portfolio of livelihood and livelihood diversification
exist within muga rearers. Research gap exists in the area, and so the study was conducted to
find out the livelihood diversification of muga rearers and muga non-rearers in a traditional
muga belt of Majuli district of Assam. Total 75 muga rearers and 75 muga non-rearers were
selected by proportionate random sampling technique. The data were collected using the
personal interview schedule and through personal observation. Statistical tools employed to
analyse the data included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test, ttest,
Simpson Index of diversity (SID) and cross-tabulation.
The findings revealed that the majority (38.70%) of the respondents belonged to
the age group of 36-44 years in case of muga rearers and 38.70 percent muga non-rearers
belonged to 46-54 years of age group. Most of the muga rearers (32.00%) were up to middle
school passed, and most of the muga non-rearers (30.70%) were higher secondary and above
passed. Majority of the muga rearers (54.70%), as well as muga non-rearers (58.70%), belonged
to scheduled tribe (ST). Most of the muga rearers (57.30%), as well as muga non-rearers
(78.70%), were having the nuclear type of family. Majority of respondents (58.70%) were small
farmers in case of muga rearers and marginal farmers in case of muga non-rearers (52.00%).
The average monthly income for the highest percentage of respondents (60.00%) incase of
muga rearers ranged between Rs. 14000-18375 and for muga non-rearers (46.70%) it was 8750-
150083 Rs. It was found that majority of the respondents had a medium level of economic
orientation both in the case of muga rearers (54.70%) and muga non-rearers (40.00%). Social
participation was found as high in the case of muga rearers (64.00%) and medium in case of
muga non-rearers (53.30%). The study further revealed that the average SID value of muga
rearers was 0.67 and in the case of muga non-rearers, it was 0.75, which is on the higher side.
Majority of muga rearers (62.70%) and much non-rearers (76.00%) were found to have high
livelihood diversification.
The study revealed that livelihood diversification was high both in the case of
muga rearers and muga non-rearers, but it was more in case of muga non-rearers. It reflected
that muga gives a good income to the rearers, but still, it was not a dependable source of
income. Less land in the surveyed area for somoni will hinder for extension of the portfolio. So,
effort should be given to sustain the existing somoni. Since the surveyed area was a traditionally
famous muga belt, it should be protected, and proper marketing with a brand name may be tried
for muga. It will also open the scope for entrepreneurship. So, start-up programme in AAU
incubation centre may try to see the viability of entrepreneurship development.