International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development
2025, Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part A
Rural farm household profiles and socio-economic patterns in Punjab’s agro-ecosystem
Raushan Kumar, Thennnavan S, Mithlesh Kumar and Gurshaminder Singh
The socio-economic dimensions of agriculture in Punjab, such as education, landholding, caste, age, house type and family composition, farmers' involvement with agriculture and economic security. While scholars have examined socio-economic dimensions of agriculture separately, the understanding of them together as a cohesive unit is underdeveloped. Additionally, small holder farmers' preparedness to use digital platforms for farm advisories; and participation across generations; is also under-examined, in the context of increasing smartphone and internet access across Punjab.
In Kharif 2025, data was gathered from 80 farming households in five villages of Eastern Punjab: Fatehpur Jattan, Tole Majra, Dholan Majra, Barauli, and Doom Chheri. The results showed that 48.75% of farmers belonged to the General category, 36.25% OBC, and 15% SC. In terms of age, 58.75% of farmers were aged 30–50, suggesting a predominance of middle-aged farmers. Family types consisted of 58.75% nuclear and 41.25% joint families. A rise in digital penetration was observed, with 22.9% of farmers having smartphones, 22.9% having internet access, 16.4% using apps related to agriculture, and 16.4% accessing social media. All households lived in pakka houses. In education, data showed that 46.25% had primary school education, while 31.25% had middle school, and 22.5% had high school education. Land ownership data indicated that 41.25% of farmers had small holdings, 36.25% had marginal holdings, and 22.5% had large holdings. These findings demonstrate that socio-economic diversity among farmers remains important in relation to farmers' adoption of modern practices. This study will provide evidence for policymakers and development agencies to promote inclusive and technology-driven agricultural growth in Punjab.
