LIVELIHOOD SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS IN WESTERN VIDARBHA.
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Date
2019-07-15
Authors
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Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra.
Abstract
The present study entitled “Livelihood Sustainability of Small and Marginal Farmers in Western Vidarbha” was conducted in Akola and Akot tahsil in Akola districts and Shegaon and Khamgaon tahsil in Buldhana districts of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra state with following specific objectives.
1. To study personal, socio-economic and situational characteristics of the small and marginal farmers.
2. To study the livelihood sustainability of small and marginal farmers.
3. To study the relationship between selected characteristics of small and marginal farmers and livelihood sustainability.
4. To study the problems faced by the small and marginal farmers about livelihood.
The total 120 respondent were selected by random sampling method. Out of which 60 small and 60 marginal farmers were selected from Akola and Buldhana districts of Vidarbha. The present study was based on exploratory design of research.
The salient findings of the present study revealed that from all age group respondents were covered, 2.50 percent were illiterate, within the literates (49.17%) respondents educated up to primary school level. Majority of farmers (66.67%) observed in small family size.
Majority (65.83%) farmers did not have any sources of access the irrigation. They solely depend on monsoon rains i.e. rainfed farming and have crop-crop (78.33%) farming system. Over half (56.50 %) of them were engaged seasonally in crop cultivation on their own farm plus farm labour for wage earning as a supportive endeavour to farming. 55.83 per cent farmers have income in the range of Rs. 40,001 to Rs. 60000/. The average annual income of selected small and marginal farmers were Rs.60258.33 per year.
The low livelihood sustainability index can be attributed in majority 55.50 per cent of the farmers duo to low natural (52.50%), social (85.83%) and financial capital (86.67%) even though medium human capital (95.00%) and physical capital (64.17%) is on encouraging/supporting. Out of these variables land holding, irrigation source, type of land, type of crop, cropping system, farming system and annual income shows positive and significant correlation with livelihood sustainability status at 0.01 level of probability.
Among the natural resource related problems cent per cent (100.00%) of the farmers have expressed that 'erratic rainfall and cumulative droughts over years' followed by lack of resource conservation (76.67%) and lack of Irrigation facilities (65.83%). The most prominent financial problems identified by the farmers was procedural delays in obtaining farm loans (67.50%). The major market related problems elicited by per cent (100.00%) of the farmers to that lack of remunerative price fluctuation.
Hence, this research study clears that in study area there is a need to increase the income level of the small and marginal farmers for increasing their paying capacity/ability, increase the irrigation potential for profitable crop grown and better employment opportunities, new improved technology utilization, motivate them to face challenges in life and raising their livelihood sustainability in Western Vidarbha.
Description
The study was carried out in four talukas viz. in Akola and Akot talukas in Akola districts and Shegaon and Khamgaon talukas in Buldhana districts of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. Three villages were selected randomly from each taluka and from each selected village, 10 small and marginal farmers were selected randomly, 120 respondents were selected randomly from four talukas constituting 30 from each taluka, thus total 120 small and marginal farmers were selected from 12 villages. Exploratory research design was used for the present study. The data was collected with the help of structured Interview Schedule.
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Citation
NADHAVADEKAR, UMESH PANDURANG. (2019). Livelihood sustainability of small and marginal farmers in Western Vidarbha. Department of Extension Education, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Sc. 2019. Print. xvi, 115p. (Unpublished).