Socio-economic analysis of mustard growers in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir (UT)

A comprehensive investigation was undertaken in 2020-2021 in the Samba district of the Jammu region, Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory), employing a ex-post facto study design. The primary objective was to discern the socio-economic characteristics of the mustard cultivators. Utilizing a multistage sampling methodology, a total of 120 mustard growers (60 beneficiary and 60 non-beneficiary farmers) constituted the study sample. The results indicate that a substantial proportion of respondents (52% beneficiary) and (32% non-beneficiary) fall within the middle-age category, holding matriculation level education (63% beneficiary) and (54% non-beneficiary). The majority of equal per cent of respondents (83% beneficiary as well as non-beneficiary) reside in nuclear family setups and agriculture emerges as the predominant occupation (59% for beneficiary and 68% non-beneficiary). The majority of mustard growers both beneficiary and non-beneficiary in the study area have marginal farm sizes, primarily irrigated using canal water. While several critical information sources were conveniently located near the study area, including the input stores, market and access to others such as the SAU, KVK and the agriculture office was more distant. Respondents occasionally sought information from nearby sources in their villages.