Socioeconomic Characteristics of Farmers Who Sold and Retained Their Farmland in the Peri-urban Interface of Bengaluru, India

Understanding peri-urban farmer’s socio-economic characteristics is a prerequisite for successful planning and implementation of developmental programmes in peri-urban areas. In view of this, a study was undertaken to analyze socio-economic characteristics of farmers who sold their farmland (sold category1) and farmers who retained their farmland (retained category2) in the peri-urban area of Bengaluru. A total of 160 respondents selected using multi-stage sampling procedure constituted the sample size and data collection was done through semi-structured interview schedule. Post stratification of respondents was made into sold (n=93) and retained (n=67) categories based on their farm land selling behaviour. Results of the study revealed that majority of sold (41.9%) and retained category (41.8%) belonged to middle age group (36-50 years). More schedule caste and schedule tribe respondents were found in sold category (24.7%) as compared to retained category (11.9%). More graduate and above educated (9.7%) were present in sold category as compared to retained category (4.5%). Around 46.3 per cent respondents belonged to medium category (5-8 family members) in case of both sold and retained category. More than half of respondents (55.9%) in sold category belonged to marginal farmers as compared to retained category (37.3%). Sold category had high (>2) family education status versus retained category. The study recommends the need for considering socio-economic conditions of peri-urban farmers for the suitable design and successful implementation of Governments’ developmental programmes in complex peri-urban settings.