Socio-economic transformation through National Food Security Mission in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, India.

UTTAR Pradesh (India); KARNATAKA (India)

Augmenting agricultural productivity is the goal of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Government of India. The aim of the present study was to analyse the socio-economic changes brought about by NFSM in 2022 in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Karnataka. For this, 160 beneficiary farmers and 80 non-beneficiary farmers from both states were part of personal interviews and focused group discussions. The socio-economic transformation was higher for beneficiary farmers in terms of annual income, occupational status, crop diversification, earning members, material possession, agricultural productivity and access to the programme than for non-beneficiary farmers of both states. Comparative analyses of the transformation of beneficiary farmers in Karnataka and UP revealed significant changes in the socio-economic indicators, except earning members, education, social participation and agricultural productivity. The changes brought about by this Mission, before and after its launch, revealed a significantly higher socio-economic impact on the beneficiary farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]