Department of Human Development & Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 14100.
A study of 360 aged farmer respondents of three districts of Punjab revealed that most of them have been living in pucca houses of various types with by and large, all the facilities of urban areas and also possessing most of the durable goods indicating a clear shift in the living pattern in rural society. Areas under wheat and paddy crops have shown significant increases while other crops like groundnut, sugarcane, grams, and oilseeds have indicated a declining trend over time. Visiting times to the fields have now been changing. Modern machinery, automation in tube wells and use of chemicals have significantly decreased the long working hours in the fields. Most farmers have availed of credit between Rs. 1 lakh to 2.5 lakh taken from institutional as well as non-institutional sources largely for purchase of farm inputs, repayment of old debts, spending on socio-religious ceremonies etc. Farmers have been spending large amounts on agricultural inputs and in numerous cases for social prestige also. Local labour is largely replaced by migratory labour due to various reasons. Arrival of new technology and use of agrochemicals have turned out to be the major factors for bringing a change in agriculture. Intercaste acceptance of food has increased. Jaimani system works no more in the rural areas. The majority of the farmers prefered a nuclear family system and cited commercialization of agriculture and urban impact as the main reasons for the change of preference.
