Socio-economic features of farm households-a comparative study of hill and plain regions of Uttarakhand, India

A study was conducted to compare the socio-economic status of farm households of hill and plain regions of Uttarakhand, India. A multi stage stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 75 sample farmers. Analysis based on primary data indicated that the average operational holding of plain region (2.88 ha) was more than six times higher as compared to hilly region (0.43 ha). Average household size in the plain region (5.47) was more as compared to hilly region (5.02). Man equivalent family size for overall farm household of the hill region was 3.61 while that in plains was 3.91. Man equivalent farm family size was 3.73 for entire region including hills and plains. The proportion of primary and middle education level of farmers was high in plain region as compared to hilly region, whereas the proportion of farmers educated up to high school and intermediate is slightly higher in hilly region as compared to plain region. In hills major contribution to total income was from non-farm sector (about 80%) while, in plains on-farm enterprises played the important role by contributing three forth of farm household income. On overall basis in the state the share of on-farm activities was about 48% and rest 52% contributed by non-farm sectors, in the farm household's total income.