Abstract:
This study was conducted in 2007 based on cross sectional data collected during 2004-05 in order to analyze income sources, poverty status and crop productivity of farmer families in the selected districts of rice-wheat zone (Sialkot, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura) and mixed-cropping zone (Faisalabd, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh) of Punjab, Pakistan. Three-hundred farmers; fifty farmers each district were randomly interviewed for this study. It was found that yields of major crops were 35-50 per cent less than the potential anticipated yields. Moreover, yield gaps for the major crops were almost same across both zones. Use of last year's non-graded crop produce as seed, less than recommended seed use and fertilizers application were the main reasons of yield gaps. Analysis of the sources of income revealed that crop income accounted for about two-third of the total income of farm families. It was estimated that 34% and 28% of the rural farm people were poor in mixed-cropping zone and rice-wheat zone respectively. Poverty gap indices for farm people of mixed-cropping zone and rice-wheat zone were 0.41 and 0.14, respectively. Similarly, income inequality amongst poor in the mixed-cropping zone was more than in the rice-wheat zone. Thus, incidence of rural poverty was more severe in the mixed-cropping zone than in the rice-wheat-zone. Farmers with income above poverty level had more diversified cropping patterns and share of minor crops in their crop income was greater than farmers with income below the poverty level.
Page(s):
172-178
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, Volume: 9, Issue: 2, Year: 2011