Study on various socio-personal characteristics of self help group (SHG) and Non-SHG members practicing dairy farming in West Bengal, India

The study was conducted in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Data were collected through personal interview with the help of pre-tested structured schedule from randomly selected 80 SHG member of 8 blocks of the district. Two villages from each block and five respondent from each village were selected, total of 80 SHG beneficiaries rearing animals were used to make a control group the SHG dairy farmers were younger in age with less than secondary level education. Majority of them depended on agriculture and animal Husbandry based production system with nuclear family and low income group having land holding up-to one hectare. Though, the socio-economic condition of the SHG was poor but their information network, socio-psychological orientation and adoption behavior were better than Non-SHG members. The study indicated that younger farmers with lower level of education and economic status were readily available to join developemental programme which was actually designed for the socio-economic up-liftment of the rural SHG members.