A Study on Status Spread of Marginal Farmers in India (2003)

Marginal Farmers,

Irrigation,

Poverty,

This study was conducted for International Development Enterprises (IDE), a non-profit organization that has been facilitating irrigation and agricultural production among the small and marginal farmers in India since 1991. Its mission is to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions of the rural poor (small and marginal farmers mainly) by getting them to access affordable, appropriate and environmentally sustainable solutions within the ambit of market forces. The aim of the study was to ascertain the need and relevance of IDE’s irrigation techniques, mainly treadle pump and micro diesel by providing a comprehensive picture of the small and marginal farmers. This involved an in-depth analysis of ‘marginal’ farmers, their size, socio-economic status, living conditions, characteristics of their land-holdings, cultivation and cropping practices, source of irrigation etc. The study investigated the relationship between irrigation and poverty and identified the districts in the country where IDE’s work would have maximum potential.