An analytical study of socio-economic conditions of tribal farmers in Bijnor district of U.P. State

Abstract

In the present study the tribals are socio-economically backward as compared to the non-tribals. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for the overwhelming majority of the tribal population in the study area. Different agricultural strategies have been launched after 1966 in the country to bring about economic development in agriculture sector. In the study area, where agriculture is the main occupation of tribal, they are still awkward. So as to eradicate the problems of tribal people, it becomes necessary on the part of the policy makers to identify and quantify the socio-economic factors which are inhibiting their rowth and development. Keeping these views in mindzan analytical study of socio-economic conditions of tribal farmers in Bijnor district of U.P. state was conducted with the specific objectives. These are to study the different aspects of tribal evelopment in India, to review the socio-economic features of tribes in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, to highlight the state of newlineagriculture in the study area, to examine the socio-economic onditions of tribal farmers, to compare the tribal farmers of Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh with the Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttrakhand so as to analyze the levels of socio-ecznomic development and to suggest viable measures to overcome constraints so as to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal farmers. Under the selected districts of Bijnor and Udham Singh Nagar four blocks had been selected viz. Kotwali, Najibabad, Afzalgarh and Gadarpur, for comparative study which have largest population of Buksa tribes. Farmers from the different categories like landless, marginal, small and medium were selected on the basis of their land holdings. Primary data were collected from the sample tribal farmers on different socio-economic aspects with the help of structured collective questionnaires and secondary data were collected from different official sources.