Studies on Policy Option for Quality Seed Production and ... - NFPCSP

4.3.2 Major occupation of maize farmersIt appears that agriculture is the major occupation for all categories of farmers in the three selected sites(Table 4.3.2). The large and medium maize farmers were more engaged in agriculture (average 92%)compared to small farmers (average 83%). On the other hand, 13% small farmers had businessTable 4.3.2 Major occupation of maize farmers in the study areasFarmers’ categoryMajor occupation (%)Agriculture Business Service TotalRajshahiLarge 91 8 1 100Medium 89 7 4 100Small 74 19 7 100Average 85 11 4 100CV (%) 5.1 7.8 12.4 -DinajpurLarge 97 3 - 100Medium 89 2 9 100Small 78 18 4 100Average 88 8 7 100CV (%) 6.3 12.4 10.1KishoregonjLarge 89 8 3 100Medium 98 2 - 100Small 97 3 - 100Average 95 4 3 100CV (%) 5.7 10.3 - -Average (all sites) 89 8 5 100in the study area, whereas only 6 and 4% large and medium farmers occupied business, respectively.The table also shows that a small number of farmers were in service (average 4.6%). The survey datareveal that due to good linkage with NGOs and micro credit facility, the large number small farmerswere engaged in business. The occupations for all categories of farmers at all sites are presented here toassess their crop production background which may help the farmers in creating the demand ofadvanced technologies of hybrid maize production.4.3.3 Family and farm size of maize farmersTable 4.3.3 exhibits that the average family size in Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Kishoregonj were 6.25, 4.95and 6.50 members/family, respectively. The highest number of family members (7.21 members/family)was found at Kishoregonj site in large maize family but minimum number of family members was 4.27members/family as observed at Dinajpur site in small farm size family. The average own land per farmfamily was 350, 299, 376 dec, respectively. The large farmers had 630.56 dec, 754.00 dec and 942.64 decof own land/family in Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Kishoregonj, respectively. But the small farmers of thesame districts occupied only 124.06 dec, 124 dec and 140.32 dec/family, which were also smaller thanthe farm size of medium farmers (324.38 dec, 213 dec and 349.27 dec/family in Rajshahi, Dinajpur andKishoregonj, respectively). The per family total operated land was 342, 349 and 392 dec in Rajshahi,Dinajpur and Kishoregonj, respectively. Results show that the small and medium categories of farmers83