Investment, Income and Expenditure Pattern of Marginal and Small Farmers: A Comparative Analysis of Karnataka and Punjab

The present study examined the investment, income and expenditure pattern of the marginal and small farmers in Karnataka and Punjab. A sample of 120 marginal and small farmers consisting 60 each from the study states were selected by using multi stage random sampling technique with reference period of 2017-18. The study revealed-that investment of the marginal and small farmers in Punjab was significantly higher-as compared with Karnataka. The income from crops was emerged as major sources of gross income in Punjab, whereas in Karnataka, the income from non-farm sources came out to be main source of income on these farm households. The marginal and small farmers in Punjab spent relatively higher and major part of the domestic expenditure was on non-food items. The study suggested that in order to ensure the livelihood-security of marginal and small farmers, the off-farm employment opportunities need-to be created and the farmers should curtail their domestic expenditure on non-food items. In order to increase net farm incomes, the farmer should allocate inputs in the crop enterprise judiciously.