Incidence of Poverty and Inequality among Farmers in Gurdaspur district of Punjab
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study examined the incidence of poverty and income inequality among different
farm size categories in Gurdaspur district. A sample of 80 farmers belonging to different farm
size categories was selected using three stage simple random sampling technique. The data
were collected personally for the agricultural year 2019-20. Average operational holdings
were 1.61, 3.57, 6.53, 12.26 and 29.38 acres among marginal, small, semi-medium, medium
and large farm size categories, respectively. Average annual family income of marginal,
small, semi-medium, medium and large farmers was Rs. 2.02, 3.78, 5.08, 8.37 and 16.03 lakh,
respectively. Share of crop income has direct relationship with farm size. The income from
non-farm sources varied directly in absolute terms and inversely in percentage terms with
farm size. Share of consumption expenditure on food items decreased with increase in farm
size. On an average food and non-food expenditure formed 23.62 and 76.38 per cent of total
expenditure. Among food-items expenditure on milk (9.7%) followed by cereals were the
major item of expenditure and among non-food items the maximum expenditure was on
education (15.08%) followed by social ceremonies (13.13%) and other important expenditure
items were health care (10.63%). Average propensity to consume declined with increase in
farm size. There were 18.19 percent marginal farmers below the poverty line. The Gini
coefficient was estimated at 0.57. Strengthening of dairy sector, provision of off-farm
employment opportunities, more effective public health and education institutions are
suggested policy implications for improving the economic conditions of farmers.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Damanjit Kaur (2021). Incidence of Poverty and Inequality among Farmers in Gurdaspur district of Punjab (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.