2016, Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part B

author(s)
Deepak Kumar Shrivastava

abstract
An analysis of socio-economic status of small landholders of Chhattisgarh plains in India is part of this study for the purpose of comparing tribal and non-tribal farmers in four blocks of Bilaspur district. Based on a sample of 320 respondents, it highlights major problems faced by farmers as smallholders including education inequalities, poverty levels, landhold-ownership, credit facilities and market conditions. It was found that the majority of tribal farmers were under the poverty line and were more likely to live in clusters, whereas the non-tribal farmers had somewhat better social and economic status. Both Tribal and non-tribal respondents participate in credit systems; nonetheless, the non-tribal farmers were more likely to get access to short-term credit, the concern therefore, became the financial success of the tribal farmers, who mainly did not own enough cultivating areas. The research findings call for immediate action to address the vital areas such as agriculture, financial mobilization, and infrastructure development solely depending on the gaining of food security and small farmer's improvement of living standards.