Socio-economic profile: A tool for improving cultural and economic status of farmers from SAS Nagar (Mohali) district Punjab

Abstract

The present study is based on preliminary information carried under socio- economic survey to assess the important information regarding agronomic practices, economic status and livestock production of farmers from SAS Nagar district of Punjab. Study was conducted on the basis of proper questionnaire from different villages. Nearly two hundred farmers were interviewed for assessing their socio-economic status of the respondent farmers. In this, we had prepared a questionnaire in which we had to gather all the information about the socio- economic profile of the farmer such as the income status, caste system, education status, family composition, cropping system, availability of implements and machinery, availability of loans, source of information, etc. Each item was analyzed and explained clearly to draw meaningful inferences. Better health facilities, availability of better seeds and provision of low-cost fertilizers are responsible for attractive farmers’ status. On interaction with all the respondent farmers, it has been found that the literacy rate is very high (90%). It was found that during kharif season, majority of them cultivated rice (80%). While in Rabi season, wheat was cultivated mostly (80%). Few of them cultivated sorghum (10%) and pearl millet (10%) for fodder use. On an interaction findings, revealed that the socio- economic status of the farmers can be improved by imparting technical knowledge to the farmers, increasing their education level and increasing their social participation. Lack of awareness in the field of disease and pest management, farming inputs were seen. Therefore, for the well-being of farming community new technologies like disease monitoring with available software technology and artificial intelligence should be applied for sustainable agriculture.