BAS KAUR*, SUBHASH CHANDER, SATPAL BALODA AND MEENAKSHI
Department of Sociology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India *(e-mail: baskaurbishnoi01@gmail.com; Mobile: 87089 55591)
(Received: December 18, 2024; Accepted: February 5, 2025)
ABSTRACT
Protected cultivation technology facilitates producing crops with great productivity and outstanding quality. It also creates jobs, increases farm income, brings in foreign exchange and makes efficient use of limited agricultural area. The present study was conducted in Hisar and Karnal districts of Haryana state with an objective to analyze the socio-economic impact of protected cultivation on farmers and major constraints faced by them. The sample of 80 respondents was selected from these two districts through systemic random sampling techniques. The results revealed that farmers had high extent of investment in the quality education of their children, increased mass media exposure, affected saving deposits, increased urban and extension contacts, increased expenditure on the performance of social ceremonies and increased household assets. The major constraints faced by the respondents were scarcity of skilled labour during peak season, high perishability of the flowers and vegetables and fluctuation in market price, respectively. The capacity-building program should be implemented to raise awareness among farmers about the profitability of protected cultivation as an agribusiness industry in India. Hence, government may consider training the farmers on protected cultivation for skill development.
Key words: Protected cultivation, socio-economic impact, constraints WMS, rank