Socio-Personal Profile of Buffalo Farmers: A Demographic Analysis of Sri Ganganagar District, Rajasthan

This study investigated the socio-economic profile and management practices of dairy buffalo farmers in Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, a region transformed by irrigation into an agricultural hub. A sample of 180 farmers across four tehsils was selected using multi-stage random sampling, with data collected through structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean percent scores, and ranking. Findings revealed a predominantly middle-aged (53.89%) farmer population with limited formal education (42.78% primary level only; 33.33% illiterate). Landholding patterns showed 59.44% owned 5–10 bigha, while occupational data indicated only 15.56% practiced dairy farming as their primary occupation. Income analysis demonstrated that 62.78% earned ₹1-2.5 lakh annually, with significant inter-tehsil variations observed across all parameters. The study identified substantial gaps in the adoption of scientific management practices, constrained by educational limitations, economic factors, and persistent traditional methods. These findings align with previous research across India, consistently showing similar demographic patterns among dairy farmers. While acknowledging limitations including reliance on self-reported data and regional specificity, this research provides crucial baseline data for developing targeted interventions to enhance productivity and sustainability in the region’s buffalo-based livelihood systems, ultimately contributing to improved farmer income and dairy sector development.