Exploring the factors influencing occupational choices of rural Rajbanshi youth from dairy farm families

Agriculture not only provides economic security but also contributes to the overall development of the country. However, it has been losing its appeal as a career choice. Youths are an important part of rural society, vital to agriculture and rural development can play an important role in revitalizing it. Therefore, a study was conducted in the year 2022 in Cooch Behar to identify the factors influencing the occupational choices of rural Rajbanshi youths of dairy farm families. Cooch Behar district has a majority population of the Rajbanshi community in West Bengal. Four blocks were selected randomly with a sample size of 200 respondents. Using the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique, seven factors were identified that influence their occupational choices. The Paired Comparison Technique was used to prioritize these factors based on the respondents’ preferences. Education level and financial remuneration were the most influential factors, while land availability was perceived to be the least influential.