Socio-Economic Status and Smallholder Structure among Hilly Rural Farming Households in the Pithoragarh District of Kumaon Himalaya: An Empirical Study

Abstract

The hilly agricultural terrain of the hill state of Uttarakhand is characterised by agriculture with small and marginal holdings and limited livelihood resources. The present study analyses the socio-economic and demographic status and landholding structure of 100 selected rural farmer families in Gangolihat, a development block in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. In this study, the scores obtained by descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were analysed. The results showed a plurality of respondents who were relatively middle-aged farmers with an average educational status of primary and less than five acres of land. An analysis based on the economic category of the respondents found 53 per cent of the households to be under the Below Poverty Line category. No meaningful relationship was found between the respondents' economic class and family structure, while no meaningful differences were found between economic class and land holding, education, and age separately. This leads to the conclusion that no one socio-economic factor can explain the economic status of hill farming families. It depends on a multi-pronged approach, so along with agriculture, income diversification and local employment opportunities also need to be given equal importance for development in these areas.