An Assessment of Socio-Personal and Landholding Characteristics of Millet Farmers in Varanasi District of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Millets are climate-resilient, nutrient-rich cereal crops that play a significant role in ensuring food and nutritional security, particularly in resource-constrained regions. Despite increasing policy attention toward millet promotion in India, understanding the socio-economic profile of millet growers remains essential for designing effective interventions. The present study was conducted in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh to examine the socio-personal and farm-related characteristics of millet-growing farmers. Four blocks, namely Kashi Vidyapeeth, Baragaon, Cholapur, and Arajiline, were selected randomly, and 120 millet farmers were identified through snowball sampling and selected randomly for the study. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. The findings revealed that a majority of the respondents (45.0%) belonged to the older age group (>50 years), while males constituted 87.5 percent of the sample. In terms of education, 36.7 percent had completed secondary education, followed by 29.2 percent graduates, indicating a relatively educated farming community. Most respondents (65.0%) possessed medium farming experience (8–42 years). Regarding landholding, 64.17 percent were marginal farmers and 25.83 percent were small farmers, reflecting the predominance of small-scale agriculture in the study area. Furthermore, 75.0 percent of the respondents cultivated millets on medium-sized plots (0.02–0.30 ha), indicating that millet cultivation is primarily practiced on limited land resources. The study highlights the need for policies promoting youth participation, women’s involvement, and enhanced support for marginal farmers to strengthen millet-based farming systems and ensure sustainable agricultural development. The findings provide useful insights for policymakers, extension agencies, and researchers engaged in millet promotion and rural livelihood enhancement.