International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Fazian Sofi, SS Kubrevi, QJA Peer, Sadaf Hussain, Mehvish Bashir and Mahmood Ul Rahman Mir

abstract
Self Help Groups (SHGs) are informal associations of individuals who unite to address shared socio-economic challenges and enhance their living standards. These groups typically consist of members from similar economic backgrounds who regularly contribute small savings into a common fund. This pooled resource acts as a critical tool for supporting self-employment initiatives and improving livelihoods. The present study aimed to analyze the profile of SHG members and identify the key constraints affecting their participation in agricultural decision-making. The results revealed that a majority (74.29%) of SHG members were aged between 22 to 40 years, possessed medium access to information sources (14-18), had family sizes ranging from 5 to 8 members, and 26.42% were graduates or above. Most were marginal farmers owning less than 1 hectare of land, with family incomes between rupees 64,901 and rupees 2,82,202 per annum. A large proportion of SHG members had no membership in other organizations. Decision-making abilities among members were found to be moderate (11-25), and notably, the majority had not received any formal training. These findings indicate the necessity for structured training programs, organizational linkages, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen the role and effectiveness of SHGs in rural development.