SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MOTIHARI TOBACCO IN WEST BENGAL

Abstract

Tobacco is a highly remunerative crop fetching huge benefits to farmers in the tobacco growing regions of West Bengal. The present study is an attempt to assess the impact of tobacco crop on socio-economic transformation of tobacco farmers in West Bengal. A total of 80 respondents were selected for the study comprising 40 tobacco farmers and 40 non tobacco farmers representing tobacco growing villages and non-tobacco growing villages. The average net returns from tobacco grown is Rs 55000/acre in West Bengal region compared to other crops like potato (Rs 10,700/ acre), wheat and jowar (Rs 6000/acre). High level of socio-economic status is observed for tobacco growers in terms of land size, annual income and expenditure pattern, possession of assets, habitat security, educational security and social empowerment than non-tobacco farmers. The major constraints identified from tobacco farmers are price fluctuation, availability of labour, suckers’ problem and storage facilities. In case of non-tobacco farmers, price fluctuations nonavailability of sufficient credit, high labour cost, climate change are the major constraints.