Socio-economic Status of Chilli Growers of Abhanpur Block of Raipur District

India is known as the ‘The home of spices’. There is no other country in the world that produces as many kinds of spices as India. The climate of the country is suitable for almost all spices. Spices constitute an important group of agricultural commodities which are virtually indispensable in the culinary art. There are over 80 spices grown in different parts of the world and around 50 spices are grownin India Thepresent study was conducted during 2011–12 in Abhanpur block of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state. Out of total 104 villages in Abhanpur block 11 villages selected purposively Out of total chilli growers in each selected village, 30 per cent farmers from each village were selected randomly, thus the total 160 farmers were selected for the present study. It was found that most of the respondents (30.62%) were illiterate belonged to other backward class (96.88%), had medium size of family (75.00%) with six to twelve members and had no membership in any organization (61.25%) indicating poor social participation. The study revealed that 43.75 per cent respondents had marginal sized (up to 1 ha.) land holding. The majority of the respondents (61.25%) practiced farming (chilli cultivation) occupation with 35 per cent recording an annual income between Rs. 35,001 to 60,000. In case of availability of credit out of the total respondents who had acquired credit the cent per cent of the respondents (100.00%) had acquired credit easily.