Exploring the socio-economic dimensions of rural farming in Rupnagar, Punjab

Introduction

Agriculture has the capacity to decrease poverty, boost wages, and enhance food security for 80% of the world's poor, who live in rural regions and mostly work in agriculture. Agriculture is a major source of economic stability, especially in developing countries like India. According to 2018 figures, agriculture employed more than 50% of the Indian workforce and generated 17-18% of the country's GDP. India has the largest net cropped area in the world, followed by the United States and China. Agriculture's economic contribution to India's GDP is falling due to the country's overall economic growth. Since 2008-09, the global economy has grown slowly, and all sectors of the Indian economy have gradually progressed. Countries that are developed income, degree of education, income size of landholding, pattern of food consumption, caloric intake per head, occupational structure, and other basic amenities and infrastructure facilities all contribute to socioeconomic standing. It is a method of examining how individuals or families fit into society by utilizing economic and social statistics that have been shown to have an impact on people's health and wellbeing. In the present situation in Indian agriculture, public extension cannot supply more skilled people to fully meet the farmers' complicated demands by reaching millions of farmers. Farmers' needs are becoming more diverse, and the knowledge necessary to satisfy them exceeds the capabilities of grassroots extension functionaries. Analyzed the socioeconomic status of farmers' by adopted agro forestry. The data were collected through interviews from respondent's members of agro forestry farming. by Chouhan (2017) [1] . Gender effects agricultural crops and nutritional status in rural areas. The study was limited to one cropping season. Farmers' education plays a significant role in obtaining and using information on contemporary agricultural technologies to meet local specific challenges more efficiently. Komatsu et al. (2019) [2] . Punjab is correctly referred to as the "Granary of India". It produces across 2.5 billion tons of paddy and nearly one percent of the world's cotton crop.

Approximately 82% of the state's land was under cultivation, with wheat accounting for 85% and paddy accounting for 73%. Gohain, (2018) [3] . Experiential learning through RAWEP in agriculture has an outstanding potential for offering enhanced education to agricultural technologists with a modern outlook and executive capacity. Learning through experience must give value to students beyond just acquiring technical skills (Dhas et al., (2006) [4] . Insurance illiteracy and farmers' preference for agriculture support payments are the primary reasons for limited access to agriculture insurance. Crop insurance systems are currently being operated wrongly due to state-level implementation challenges. Singh and Agarwal, (2020) [5] . Implementing numerous programs and initiatives has improved the socioeconomic position of rural communities. However, the economic progress of rural communities could not be divided evenly across the region. Even in a tiny community, many economic classes may be discovered. It has long been thought that development is a process that improves people's quality of life. Khadda et al. (2016) [7] & (2018); Kasniya et al. (2022) [6,7] . Area-level measurements can aggregate separate data or show the impact of socioeconomic status on context. Lynch & Kaplan [8] .

Materials and Methodology

The present study was designed to know the socio-economic status of the farmers in Dhianpur, Kakrali, Dhangrali, khairpur and Dhanauri villages of Morinda Tehsil of Rupnagar district in Punjab. The questionnaire-based on the primary source of data. The interviews of 90 farmers were recorded. Prestructured classes were scheduled to prepare the questionnaire for the survey to collect the data covering the objectives of the study. A systematic questionnaire and in-person door-to-door interviews were used to gather the data. Personal interviews with senior and nearby villages are also done to collect qualitative data.

Results and Discussion

Caste

From the data out 90 farmers, revealed that large percentage of farmers belonged to general category while. Overall percentage of General was 85% and SC/ST respondents was only 13% (Table 1). Other categories than General category were existing in these villages but most of them are not landlords or farmers. They were engaged in some other occupations such as labours, drivers, shopkeepers.

Type of mobile phone and internet connectivity

According to the survey conducted out of 90 farmers, more than 94% of farmers had mobile phones and 5% of them farmers did not have any mobile phone as shown in Table 3.

Education Status

From the Table 5, it is observed that education of the 90 farmers from all six villages showed that few had attended primary school, 46% had finished metric, 45% had finished high school and 8% had graduated. There were few illiterate farmers among the farmers. Literacy rate of all six villages are more than 80%

Source of Inform action

Farmers get information from different sources through newspaper, Input dealers, Kisan mela, Radio/Television, Trainings, social media and others through survey. It is observed that lots of farmers get notified about new schemes and technologies through Input dealers (85%) and Kisan mela (69%) as shown in Table 6.

Type of Houses

Village is well developed and most of them live in pakka house.

Implements and Machinery

Most of the farmers have owned tractors and Harrows but limited farmers have Rotavator and Combine Harvester. Most of the farmers have their own machinery and also rent additional equipment from fellow farmers as shown in table 7.

Livestock Production

Data collected from the survey revealed that 90% of the farmers have livestock and 85% of them have buffalo and 71% of them have cow as shown in Table 9.

Conclusion

This study provides vital insights into the socioeconomic profile of farmers in Punjab's Rupnagar area. The findings illustrate the diversity of the farming communities, with variances in caste, family composition, age, education, and access to technology. Notably, the vast majority of farmers are from the general group, live in coupled households, and are 51 or older. The existence of cell phones and internet connectivity among a sizable proportion of farmers highlights the potential for technologically driven agricultural practices. Education levels vary, although a significant number have finished at least secondary school. The study also reveals that farmers primarily rely on input dealers and Kisan melas for information on new agricultural schemes and technologies. Additionally, the data points out variations in landholding sizes, with a notable presence of marginal and small farmers. Livestock production, particularly buffalo and cow rearing, is popular among farmers. This study gives information on the different socioeconomic landscape of this region's farmers, which is critical for policymakers, agricultural extension agencies, and educational institutions to customize their programs and efforts successfully. Understanding the nuances of the farming community in Rupnagar, Punjab, is essential for meeting their specific requirements and promoting sustainable agricultural methods. This study not only contributes to scholarly understanding of farmers' socioeconomic dynamics, but it also prepares the way for informed policies and actions to improve the well-being of farming communities in the region. It emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and development efforts to meet the challenges and opportunities in Punjab's agricultural sector.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentI want to sincerely thank the individuals and institutions that played a crucial role in helping me complete this research paper, especially within the context of the RAWE program. Your support and guidance have been invaluable, and I am deeply grateful for your contributions to this achievement.

References

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