SOCIO-PERSONAL AND AGRO-ECONOMIC FACTORS TOWARDS PERCEIVED ADVANTAGES OF MILLETS CULTIVATION IN TRIBAL AREA

A study was conducted to examine socio-personal and agro-economic characteristics vis-à-vis perceived advantagesmillets cultivation by millet farmersin tribal area of Odisha. Farming, forest, wage, migration and farm services were major livelihood means of the farmers in tribal area of Odisha. Millets were major crops in their farming system. In the study area, 39 per cent of farmers were of middle age category (35 to 45 years). With respect to education, majority (72%)of them were illiterate to educated up to middle school. Most of the male farmers (96%) were men who were head of the family, 74% had medium size family with 5-6 members, 78% owned less than1.5ha, out of which they apportioned less than 0.4ha for millets cultivation. Majority of farmers (69%) did not had cell phone, 92% were not availing credit from any organizations, while 54 per cent of the farmers were members of various organizations like co-operative society, youth club, and tribal farmers group etc. Total 46% had rich experience between 12-27 years. Most of the respondents (71%) had medium income between Rs.52,000-90,000/- annually, 72% of the farmers had a livestock population with 1-7 cattle, 70 percent were making use of mass media at low level and 44 per cent of the respondents had medium level of decision-making ability, which was mostly dominated by men. From above socio-economic status of the farmers’ indicated that, theyhad poor education, low resource- base and insufficient accessibility of resources undermine their livelihood patterns.Therefore, tribal millet farmers in the study area deserve special attention for strengthening their livelihoods by developing suitable strategy.