Impact of the Farmer FIRST Programme on Occupational Diversification among Beneficiaries

Abstract

The Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) is a flagship farmer-centric initiative of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) aimed at strengthening farm livelihoods through participatory research, need-based technological refinement and strong farmer–scientist interaction. The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of Farmer FIRST Programme on occupational change among beneficiaries of the Crop-Based Module implemented in Lalbarra block of Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. A cross-sectional comparative research design was adopted for the study. A total of 129 beneficiaries were selected through proportionate random sampling from three selected villages. Primary data were collected through personal interview method using a structured interview schedule. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage and Chi-square test. The findings revealed a significant increase in farming as the primary occupation of beneficiaries after programme implementation, accompanied by a substantial decline in labour-based occupations. The calculated Chi-square value (?² = 24.225) was found to be significant at 0.01 probability level, indicating a statistically significant difference in occupational distribution before and after FFP. The study highlights the positive contribution of Farmer FIRST Programme in enhancing occupational stability and livelihood security of farmers.