Farmer's attitude towards agricultural subsidies in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine attitude of the tribal farmers towards agricultural subsidies in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. 161 respondents were selected by proportionate random sampling technique. Compilation and interpretation were done as per objectives of the study. Findings indicated that majority of the tribal respondents (56.52%) were middle aged, had high level of education (23.60%), had nuclear family type (53.42%), marginal land holding (43.47%) had medium annual income (57.14%) and low social participation (90.68%).The respondents had medium extension contact (52.79%), medium farming experience (55.90%) and had low mass media exposure (68.32%). It was also found that majority of the tribal respondents (54.05%) had medium knowledge. They showed medium attitude towards agricultural subsidy (61.49%). Moreover level of education, family size, size of land holding, annual income, extension contact, mass media exposure and knowledge had positive and significant relationship with the attitude of tribal farmers towards agricultural subsidies. The results of the study showed that, higher the socio-economic status (more frequent contact with extension services, higher education, size of land holding, etc.) greater the access to information and greater the perceived importance of agricultural subsidies. It is concluded that, if policy-makers and extension organizations concentrate on these factors, they are more likely to succeed in making farmers more favorably disposed toward agricultural subsidies.