Socio-economic Profile of Beneficiaries of the NICRA Farmers in Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to analyse the socio-economic impact of farmers in the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project villages in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. To analyse the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the context of climate-resilient technologies, and the challenges they face in implementing these practices, a total of 150 respondents (50 from each NICRA village) were selected by purposive and random sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, and percentage. The results revealed that, the majority of farmers were middle-aged (47.33%) and had completed high school (30.00%). The majority of the respondents in the sample villages had a medium income (47.33%) and medium agricultural experience (50.00%). NICRA coordinators should establish specialized strategies to create and spreading technology that take into consideration the farmers' socio-economic and psychological characters. NICRA initiatives, such as field demonstrations and training through KVKs, have been linked to better socio-economic outcomes and adaptability among farmers. The study highlights the potential benefits of expanding sustainable agricultural measures through climate-resilient technologies.