ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF RICE FARMING IN BHADRAK DISTRICT OF ODISHA: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

The majority of people in India live in villages and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. 17% of the GDP comes from this sector. Because of natural disasters and market swings, farmers' circumstances remain precarious despite economic and technological progress. News of farmer suicides in various regions of the nation during drought years emphasizes the consequences of this diversity. The primary source of income for the residents of Bhadrak district is agriculture, with paddy accounting for approximately 94% of the total cultivable area and serving as the primary crop grown during the Kharif season. A farmer's socioeconomic status can be determined by a number of factors, such as their education, income, expenditures, savings, land ownership, livestock status, debt, and more. The current study intends to examine the socioeconomic analysis of rice farmers in the Bhadark district of Odisha. This study is based on a primary survey from 400 Farmers are selected through multistage random sampling. The data reveals trends, such as higher percentages of illiteracy and lower educational attainment among older age groups and a relatively small number of respondents possessing a degree across all age brackets. A stark imbalance is present with males and females, indicating male dominance in farming practices. Most farmers pertain to Kharif season cultivation while involving both Kharif and Rabi seasons. The data clearly indicates a predominance of Kharif season cultivation, with nearly 70% of the cases, underscoring its significance in the agricultural cycle. Farmers unanimously agreed on the necessity of cultivating rice, underscoring its importance despite the challenges faced. The present study suggested that to make seeds available for farming, decrease the price of seeds, improve irrigation facilities, provide crop insurance, and provide subsidies for seeds and fertilizer, etc.