1Mycology and Plant Pathology, (BHU-KVK), Banaras Hindu University, RGSC, Barkachha, Mirzapur-231001, Uttar Pradesh
2Plant Pathology, BAC, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, Bihar
3Extension Education, BAC, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, Bihar
4Agricultural Engineering, (BHU-KVK), Banaras Hindu University, RGSC, Barkachha, Mirzapur-231001, Uttar Pradesh
5Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi-221002, Uttar Pradesh
*Corresponding author email id: ghatak11@gmail.com
Online Published on 21 December, 2022.
Developing countries including India practice family farming as a tradition, and hence, a comprehensive understanding of family farming in the changing scenario can play major role in uplifting the economy for majority of the population which still has farming as its principal means of subsistence. To understand the scenario and impact of major hurdles in a vicinity implementing farming as a family business, a study was undertaken in the rainfed Vindhyan Zone of Mirzapur district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. In the contemporary India, rural youths are facing disconcertment largely on the front of employment, and most interestingly, the majority is not yet ready for making a career in farming as a family business as against only 11.3 per cent in the area of study who are practicing it in absence of any other occupation or means of livelihood. Among several reasons to this kind of reluctance, the principal ones have been found to be lower risk-taking capacity of rural youth in the wake of various biotic/mesobiotic and abiotic (mainly climatic) challenges and uncertainty in the predictability of the profit (34.6%). Secondly, a large population (32.0%) was unaware about the capital flow in the business and farm economics. As the third important cause, 22.4 per cent of the rural youth being unable to determine the price of their perishable agricultural commodity and remaining was associated to other factors (7.2%). The study reveals plant diseases and pests posing a major threat to the overall gains from the crop which has been found to be one of the major constraints for young population to adopt farming as a family business. It was found to be a matter of wide agreement that improved control over various crop health related issues, including awareness on diseases and pests, with efficient forecasting systems will help in reducing the associated risk. Similarly, development of postharvest management skill and storage facilities at village level will reduce the market related constraints to the greatest extent.
Crop health, Family farming, Postharvest management, Rural youth
