Socioeconomic and policy dimensions of sustainable food transitions among farming communities: An agricultural extension perspective

Abstract

Sustainable food transitions are essential for ensuring climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and nutritional security in agrarian communities. This abstract deepens the discussion of how socioeconomic and policy factors influence the Sustainable Food Practice Index (SFPI) and Dietary Transition Index (DTI) in Kota district, Rajasthan. Using a structured survey of 300 farming households, this paper examines the roles of Education_Years, Farm_Size_ha, and Annual_Income—core indicators of Socioeconomic Status (SES)—along with policy awareness, institutional support, and agricultural extension contact. Findings indicate weak correlations between SES components and SFPI, suggesting that simply improving socioeconomic conditions is insufficient to drive sustainable adoption. Instead, farmers’ uptake of sustainable practices depends on accessibility of resources, market incentives, perceived risk, and effectiveness of extension services. The expanded paper argues that strategic interventions must prioritize participatory extension models, targeted policy delivery, and climate-resilient value chains.