A STUDY OF LIVELIHOOD AND INCOME SOURCES OF TRIBAL FARMERS OF HAZARIBAG DISTRICT OF JHARKHAND STATE AND REACH & PENETRATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND INSTITUTIONS AMONG THEM: A CASE STUDY OF DUMAR VILLAGE

Various revolutions (Green revolution, white revolution, yellow revolution etc.) in agriculture and allied sectors have transformed food security situations in India. Productivity of agricultural products have been increased manyfold. Revolutionary techniques of farming, animal husbandry and non-timber forest produce (NTFP) collection have increased production of various primary goods, improves life standard and income of millions of farmers residing in various part of the country. It is important to know whether the revolutions and technological changes in the country's agriculture and allied sectors are inclusive or not. This study has been conducted in a tribal village of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. In this study an attempt was made to understand the livelihood and sources of income of tribal farmers. Other purpose of this study is to know to what extent modern technology and institutions have affected their production methods and livelihood. Modern technology made their presence in their farming methods, high yielding variety seeds and chemical fertilizers are in common use. They consume most of their production. They have almost no surplus production to sell in the market. The size of agricultural holdings is very small and all of them are marginal farmers. They regularly collect firewood as well as various forest products from the forests. They don’t take loans from institutional sources. Loans from non-institutional sources are very expensive. They find it difficult to get credit from institutional sources, their farms and livestock are not insured. Various welfare and farmer centric schemes are not inclusive to tribal farmers in studied village. Adequate training should be given to local government officials. Strong and multipurpose co-operative society should be created at village level which should capable to connect tribal farmers to government schemes and act as light bearer for modernization of agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry activities and also provide financial services to these farmers at low cost.