FARM PROBLEMS OF GADDI TRIBE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "FARM PROBLEMS OF GADDI TRIBE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH"

Transcription

1 Agric. Sci. Digest., 33 (1) : 42-46, 2013 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE ccjournals.com / indianjournals.com nals.com FARM PROBLEMS OF GADDI TRIBE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Anup Katoch College of Agriculture, CSk H.P. Agricultural University, Palampur , India Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT The present investigation was carried out in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh to assess the socio-economic profile of Gaddi community and to identify their perceived occupational problems. A sample of 100 respondents was selected through proportionate random sampling technique from six randomly selected villages of Bharwana development block. The data were collected personally with the help of structured interview schedule. Results revealed that the majority of the population was literate and having agriculture as their prime occupation. Majority of the respondents possessed marginal land holdings and perceived untimely supply of farm inputs, high cost of inputs, lack of technical knowledge and training facilities respectively as their first three farm problems. Key words: Gaddi, Kuhl, Migratory profession, Tribe. INTRODUCTION Himachal Pradesh lies in the north-western Himalayan region of India and its tribal areas are generally the most secluded, remot and inaccessible hilly snow-bound tracts. These areas have very poor means of communication, low population density and even bare minimum facilities. Of the various tribes inhabiting the state viz; Gaddi, Lahula, Kinnauras, Bhot and Pangwala; the Gaddi are perhaps the most vivid, hardy and interesting tribe, represent the distinct way of life. The term Gaddi is a generic name under which Brahmin, Rajput, Khatri, Thakur or Rana, Rathi and menials are included. They have become a tribe by circumstances, mainly for the sake of development in view of their social and economic backwardness. The Gaddi are entirely Hindu, both in origin and social organization. The Gaddis live in Chamba and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh. Their chief area of concentration is in the Ravi valley particularly in Bharmaur tehsil. Earlier these people were leading migratory life with sheep and goat herds but now majority of them have left this migratory profession and started leading a stationary life by shifting to farming as their main source of livelihood. Keeping in view their shifting form migratory life to stationary life this study was conducted with following specific objectives: 1. To assess the socio-economic profile of the Gaddis. 2. To identify their occupational problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in Bhawarna block of district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh as majority of the Gaddis have settled in this district after leaving their generation old migratory profession of sheep and goat rearing. Keeping in view the scattered settlement as well as the limitation of a distant approach this study remained confined to six randomly selected villages. For the study purpose one hundred Gaddi families from these villages were selected randomly through proportionate random sampling technique. After making good rapport with the Gaddi people the data were collected personally with the help of a structured interview schedule. Later on, it was systematically arranged, classified, tabulated and was processed as well as analyzed with the help of appropriate mathematical and statistical tools. RESULTS TS AND DISCUSSION To study the general profile of the Gaddis, their selected personal and socio-economic indicators were studied and have been presented and described in Table 1. The respondents were classified into three different categories with respect

2 Vol. 33, No. 1, 2013 TABLE 1: Socio-economic profile of the Gaddi tribe. Characteristics Category Score range Frequency %age Age (Yrs.) First Second Third Educational Status Family type Size of family (Number) Land holding (Ha.) Livestock inventory (Number) Main Occupation Annual Family Income (Rs.) Illiterate Primary Middle Matric Sr. Sec. Degree a) Nuclear b) Joint a) Small c) Large Marginal Small Medium a) Small c) Large Agriculture Service Business a) Low c) High (< 1ha) (1 2 ha) (2-10 ha) Above 9 (Rs. 45,000-1,30,000) (Rs. 1,31,000 2,15,000) (Rs. 2,16,000 3,00,000) to their chronological age that ranged from years. Table revealed that 41per cent of respondents were in the age group of years, 52 per cent in the age group of years, and rest belonged to the age group of years. This might be due to natural and randomized opportunity for these individuals to be included in the study sample. This finding is in line with the study as conducted by Chand (2000). The data pertaining to the educational status of Gaddi people under different status categories showed that per cent of them were illiterate. This might be due to the migratory nature of their profession. But now they are having positive attitude towards formal education as well as its role in the personality development of an individual as data depicts that 22 per cent were educated up to matriculate (9-10) standard, 17 per cent up to senior secondary (10-12) and 11 per cent of them were even having degree standard of formal education. Ramotra (2011) in his study Knowledge of scientific practices of vegetable farming amongst Chamba farmers of Himachal Pradesh also reported that majority of vegetable growers of his study area (51.20%) had matriculate and above level of formal education. As regard to type of family, it was observed that majority of the Gaddi belonged to joint family system. This could be attributed to their strong feelings towards the strength and importance of joint families in the present social setups. Katoch (2001) and Kumari (2008) also observed the similar results

3 44 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST TABLE 2: Occupational constraints of Gaddi tribe. Problems Response* Percentage Rank Untimely supply of farm inputs I High cost of inputs II Lack of technical knowledge III Lack of training facility III Lack of assured irrigation IV Poor land holdings V Scarcity of fodder VI Poor economic condition of farmers VII Non- availability of storage facilities VIII Lack of marketing facilities IX Poor quality of farm inputs X Time consuming nature of work XI Lack of agricultural information XII Lack of farm power/machinery XIII Non- availability of labour XIV Labour consuming XV Non-availability of bullocks XVI Scattered land holding XVII Risky occupation XVIII * Multiple Responses (n=100) in case of potato growers in Kangra district and apple growers in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Majority of the respondents (61%) belonged to small sized families having 4-9 members. This might be due to their awareness about positive values of small family system. However, Kaundal (2007) in one of his study contradicted this finding and reported that equal number of respondents (45%) had medium and large size of their family and only 9.17 per cent farmers enjoyed small sized families. Majority of the respondents (78%) had agriculture as their main occupation followed by 16 per cent and 6 per cent who were engaged primarily in one or the other service and business respectively. This is due to the situational fact that in Himachal Pradesh, agriculture is the main occupation of large majority of people. The study also revealed that majority of the families (52%) were rearing 6-9 animals. The findings of the study further revealed that most of the respondents (47%) had low annual family income of Rs. 45,000-1, 30,000 followed by 32 percent who fell into the medium family income category (Rs.1, 31,000-2, 15,000). There were only per cent of households who had comparatively more family income of Rs. 2, 16,000 3, 00,000. Upadhyaya (2010) in his study entitled Training needs of potato growers in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh also reported that about half of the farmers belonged to low annual family income group. The Table 2 flashed the major problems of the Gaddis on the basis of overall multiple responses. The problem of untimely supply of farm inputs was the topmost problem perceived by 94 per cent of the respondents. The possible reason for this might be that government agencies were failing in their duties toward farmers needs. The study revealed high cost of inputs, as the problem of II rank order, perceived by 87 per cent of respondents as the majority of the farmers had poor economic conditions. Chand (2000) also reported high cost of farm inputs as one of the major problems of the farmers in the adoption of rice/maize recommended practices. Desmukh et al (2007) also revealed that more than half of the respondents in their study area perceived high cost of seed as one of the major constraints. Lack of technical knowledge and lack of training facility were perceived as the problems of III rank order, which might be attributed to poor extension contacts, poor social participation, and low exposure of the people to some accessible mass media as well as the poor/non-availability of the training facilities under their approach. Similar obstacles were also identified by Katoch (2001).

4 Vol. 33, No. 1, The other important and notable perceived farmers may also be provided with required financial problem ranked at fourth place was lack of assured assistance to purchase these costly farm inputs. It is irrigation. This problem was perceived by 72 per also suggested that the Department of Agriculture cent of the respondents and probable reason for this as well as extension and communication agencies might be that Kuhl is the only managed source of should also approach farmers to make aware, irrigation in hilly areas. In addition to this high cost educate and develop their knowledge and skill, to and non feasibility of lift irrigation, undulating handle and use the improved agricultural technology topography etc of the study area could be some of rationally by organizing farm exhibitions, krishi-mela, the natural reasons pertaining to these findings. field demonstrations, training camps as well as Zaman (1985), Valkekar (1997) and Latoria et al. through the use of electronic and print mass media. (2001) also reported similar constraints in their Kuhl was the only source of irrigation of these respective studies. farmers, due to which lack of assured irrigation was Perusal of the table also revealed that the one of the problems in study area. Hence, it is poor land holdings, scarcity of fodder and poor suggested that the Department of Irrigation and economic conditions were observed to be the other Public Health should make efforts to maintain the perceived problems of the respondents. These kuhl system. Further, the farmers may also be problems were directly inter-related which might be motivated for water harvesting technology by due to the small land holdings and other poor sources providing them the required technical knowledge by of income in hilly areas. collaborating with the financing agencies. Non-availability of storage facilities and lack Department of Agriculture should make of marketing were also other perceived problems of arrangement for the storage of farmers produce and study farmers. This might be due to the ignorance of in case of absence of storage facilities Department such facilities in the government policy or due to of Agriculture should purchase the produce from lack of nearby cooperative marketing and store farmers doorstep to provide them food and livelihood housing with the farmers themselves, or this might security to lead a better quality life. be due to lack of their own initiatives, interests as CONCLUSION well as lack of economic or some other resources The study revealed that after leaving their with them leading to poor management of these generation old migratory profession, Gaddi required facilities. people have started to lead a stationery life by Keeping in view, the extent and magnitude occupying agriculture as their main profession. of concerned problems the following suggestions Majority of the people were having small and have been made: medium landholdings. But they were facing Department of Agriculture, Govt. of problems in this profession also from farm inputs Himachal Pradesh should regulate the supply of to marketing facilities. So there is need to consider various farm inputs timely to meet out the demand their problems sympathetically from different of farmers. The quality seed, chemical fertilizers, perspectives wherein these constraints as weedicides and insecticides supply has to be ensured perceived by them can only be addressed by timely and in adequate quantity.high cost of inputs, different concerned departments of state and lack of technical knowledge and lack of training centre government to bring them at par with the facility were some of the important farm problems pace of development of the rest of the farming of Gaddi people. It is, therefore, suggested that the community of the nation. REFERENCES Chand, Puran (2000) Adoption of improved wheat cultivation practices in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. M.Sc. Thesis, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Deshmukh PR, Kadam RP and Shinde VN. (2007) Knowledge and adoption of agricultural technologies in Marathwada. Indian J. Exten. Edu. 7(1):41-43 Katoch, Manjula (2001) A study on adoption of improved potato cultivation technology in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. M.Sc. Thesis, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur.

5 46 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST Kaundal N. (2007) Utilization of sources of farm information by Kangra farmers of himachal Pradesh. M.Sc. Thesis, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Kumari W. (2008) Technology adoption behavior of apple growers in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. M.Sc. Thesis, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Latoria SK, Julkar AM and Sharma SK. (2001) Knowledge level of trained and untrained farmers and problems as perceived by trained farmers. Karnataka J. Agric. Scie., 14(4): Ramotra P. (2010) Knowledge of scientific practices of vegetable farming amongst Chamba farmers of Himachal Pradesh. M.Sc. Thesis, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Upadhyaya P. (2010) Training needs of potato growers in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. M.Sc. Thesis, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Valkekar, R.B. (1997) Adoption behavior of Rabi Jowar growers. Thesis abstract, Directorate of Publications, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Zaman, S.M.H. (1985) Institutional frame work for research extension linkages in Bangladesh. Research-Extension- Farmer, a two way continuum for agricultural development, edited by Michael Cernea, J.A. World Bank and UNDP Symposium. The World Bank Washington DC, USA.