A study on socio-economic aspects and constraints faced by green chilli growers in Begusarai District of Bihar

The study titled "A Study on Socio-Economic Aspects and Constraints Faced by Green Chilli Growers in Begusarai District of Bihar" aimed to analyze the socio-economic conditions and challenges encountered by green chilli farmers in Begusarai district. The district, known for its favorable agro-climatic conditions, supported the cultivation of green chilli, which was a significant cash crop for small and marginal farmers. The study focused on the Barauni block, where five percent of the villages with potential green chilli cultivators were purposively selected, and ten percent of respondents were randomly chosen for data collection. The findings revealed that the majority of green chilli farmers belonged to the marginal farm size category, followed by small and semi-medium farm sizes. Most respondents were young, with 40% being illiterate, and 60% were literate, with varied educational backgrounds. The majority were male, lived in nuclear families, and earned an annual income of less than one lakh. The study identified seven major constraints in the marketing of green chilli, with high transportation costs ranking as the most significant, followed by inadequate storage facilities, limited access to market information, lack of organized marketing channels, dependency on middlemen, price fluctuations, and insufficient market infrastructure. These constraints significantly affected the profitability of green chilli farming in the district, highlighting the need for improvements in marketing infrastructure and market access to ensure better economic outcomes for the growers.