Profile Characteristics of Beneficiary and Non-beneficiary Farmers of NHM in Sri Ganganagar District of Rajasthan

Abstract

Horticulture sector is one of the important sectors of agriculture which plays an important role in enhancing the socio-economic status of farmers by increasing their income. It plays a crucial role in eliminating the poverty and increasing nutritional security. Recognizing the importance of horticulture, the Government of India launched the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), which has been implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) in 2005-06. NHM launched to enhance the production and productivity of horticultural crops by adapting improved technologies in crop production. The main objective of NHM was to promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector with the help of research, technology promotion, extension and post harvest technology. NHM helps in improving horticulture production, nutritional security and income support as well as employment generation for skilled and unskilled labourers. Due to the availability of all suitable Agro-climatic conditions in India, many fruit crops are grown in a large acreage and out of this citrus cover a large area & production after mango and banana. Among citrus crops, Kinnow occupies a distinctive place in horticulture. Therefore, in order to measure the Socio-personal, Socio-economic & Communication Pattern Characteristics of Beneficiary and Non-beneficiary farmers of NHM in Sri ganganagar district of Rajasthan, the present study was conducted in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan state which was selected purposely. Out of nine Panchayat Samitis in Sri ganganagar district; three Panchayat Samitis namely Sri Ganganagar, Sri Karanpur and Padampur were purposely selected for the present study on the basis of highest area and production of kinnow in comparison to other kinnow growing Panchayat Samitis of the district. The proportionate random sampling method was used to select the respondents and total 180 respondents were taken from selected Panchayat Samitis. Study revealed that 73.89 per cent of the kinnow growers belongs to middle age group, 48.89 per cent belonged to general caste category, secondary level of education, 76.67 per cent of the respondents were not member of any social organization, main occupation is agriculture, 77.22 farmers had use canal water for irrigation and involve in medium level of mass media exposure, extension agency contact, information seeking and sharing behaviour.