Farmer’s Asset- Holding Pattern in Drought Prone Region in Western Maharashtra

Present paper focuses on the asset pattern of sample farmers in drought prone region in western Maharashtra. To analyze the Gini Co-efficient Index and Lorenz curve for the distribution of asset pattern among the sample households in western Maharashtra.

Objectives: The major objective of this paper is to study and find out (i) the asset pattern of sample farmers in drought prone region in western Maharashtra (ii) analyze the Gini Co-efficient Index and Lorenz curve for the distribution of asset pattern among the sample households in western Maharashtra.
Methods/Statistical Analysis: This paper is purely based on primary data collected from the drought prone region of western Maharashtra. Researcher has selected randomly five percent villages from each sample taluka of the respective district of Solapur and Sangli district and 20 farmers from each sample village. Total 360 households have been interviewed. Column title figures in parentheses are number of farmers interviewed as per their group/categories. The tabulated data is analyzed by using the suitable statistical tools. The formula for estimating Gini co-efficient under trapezoidal rule is given below:
Gini Co-efficient = 1 - Ʃ^N_K=1 (P_K - P_K-1) (q_K + q_K-1)/N

The distribution of asset among the households of farmers is analysed through frequency distribution and docile group analysis. Lorenz curves and Gini Co-efficient are used to find out the level of inequality in the distribution of asset among the sample households.

Findings: Present paper reveals that, on the basis of size of holding, of the total asset in sample area of western Maharashtra, 63.95% asset were owned by large farmers, 25.52% by medium farmers and 10.53% by small farmers during 2015-16. Average asset value of land of small farmers was 56.3%, medium farmers 70% and large farmers 77% in the sample households of western Maharashtra. The proportion of asset pattern on the basis of social categories states that 54.58% asset were owned by general category, 29.24% by OBC and 16.18% owned by scheduled caste in sample area of western Maharashtra during 2015-16. Occupation wise proportion of asset pattern of sample households in western Maharashtra revels that 36.76 % of total asset is owned by cultivators only. The average asset values of large farmers were (₹38.62 lakh) i.e. 6.07 times of the small farmers (₹6.36). There is high difference in distribution of asset pattern of sample households during 2015-16. There was substantial difference in land value has resulted in the asset values of small, medium and large farmers. Improvement in social sector investments under the public spending may reduce inequality to the greatest extent. Governments should initiate the schemes for protecting the right to a living wage. The universal basic income measure will assist to bridge the gap between rich and poor. There is a need to strengthen the financial support to agriculture sector.

Application/Improvement: The present paper is useful to measure the inequality in assets holding pattern and can be applied to measure the consumption distribution pattern also. It can be applied to design the specific schemes or programmes for the different groups of farmers to improve their livelihoods.