THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF SMALL FARMERS IN ADOPTING NEW AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY : A CASE STUDY OF THREE VIALLGES IN DISTRICT MARDAN

This study, which was carried out in July 2009, examines how small farmers are facing with socioeconomic problems in adopting new farm technology. For this purpose 60 respondents were randomly selected in three villages, i.e., Babeni, Fatma and Muliano Kale in district Mardan. The data for this study was collected through face-to-face interviews. This study revealed that majority of the respondents was illiterate. Moreover, most of them had meager facilities of purchasing agricultural inputs, fertilizers, sprays and storage facilities. Most of the households belonged to low monthly income group and large families. This study further revealed that lack of proper extension services of the agriculture department was another obstacle in improving the productivity of small farmers in the study areas. These studies showed that majority of the respondents were tenants and owner-cum-tenants and therefore were not prone to take any risk. This study also revealed that lack of latest information as well as non-availability of credit facilities was main problems of the small farmers of the study area.