Socio-economic Profile, Farm Structure and Production Constraints of Paddy Farmers in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh

Abstract:

Paddy cultivation plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security, generating rural employment and sustaining agricultural livelihoods in India. However, the productivity and sustainability of rice based farming systems depend heavily on the socio-economic profile of farming households and the production constraints they encounter. This study examined the socio-economic characteristics, farm structure and production constraints of paddy farming households in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, one of the principal rice growing regions of central India. Primary data were collected from 120 paddy farming households selected through a two stage sampling design combining purposive selection of the district with random selection of blocks, villages and households and respondents were subsequently classified based on operational landholding. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages and averages. Marginal and small farmers together accounted for the large majority of the sample confirming the predominance of smallholder agriculture in the study area. The average household comprised approximately six members and overall literacy stood at 88 per cent. Paddy occupied the entire cultivated area during kharif while wheat and gram dominated the rabi season. Cultivation during the summer (zaid) season was negligible owing to limited groundwater availability. Canal irrigation supplemented by borewells was the principal water source with borewell dependence increasing with farm size. Untimely availability of quality inputs, weak institutional support, rising production costs, pest incidence and seasonal labour shortages emerged as the most pressing constraints. The findings suggest that strengthening input delivery systems, agricultural extension, mechanization through Custom Hiring Centres, irrigation management and diversification into suitable rabi and water efficient zaid crops could improve the resilience, productivity and livelihood security of smallholder paddy farmers in central India.