Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON LEGAL AWARENESS OF FARM BASEDAGRI-INPUT ENTERPRENEURS ON AGRI ENTERPRISES INCENTRAL TELANGANA REGION

B. Srishailam, B. Jirli and K. Raghavendra Chowdary

Abstract

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population. Gross Value Added byagriculture, forestry, and fishing was estimated at Rs. 19.48 lakh crore (US$ 276.37 billion) in FY20. Share ofagriculture and allied sectors in gross value added (GVA) of India at current prices stood at 20.2 % in FY20.(Source: National Statistical Office (NSO). In a contrast situation where farmers’ suicide and distress stillremain the key issues in India’s Agricultural scenario, we are dreaming of achieving a doubling income forthe farming community. This gap in the income level of farmers can be bridged by adopting newer incomegenerating opportunities like establishing Farm based enterprises. Farm based enterprises are the vehiclesfor transforming rural India, these enterprises are maintained by the agripreneurs. More than half (51.42%)Agri enterprises are established units in agriculture and allied sectors established in rural areas (source:Annual report MSME 2020-21). Core thrust of research is to know about the legal awareness on Agri inputenterprises like seeds, pesticides and fertilizers and their impact on rural people. Exploratory and Ex-PostFacto research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Sanga reddy district ofcentral Telangana purposively as it is having maximum number of Agri-enterprises in the state. FromSanga reddy three revenue divisions namely Zahirabad, Narayanakhed and Sanga Reddy were chosenpurposively and from each revenue division Nine blocks were selected purposively thus making up a totalof 27 blocks. From each block 7-8 respondents were interviewed and collected data with help of speciallydesigned interview schedule thus constitutes a total of 200 farm based Agri-input entrepreneurs. The findingsof the study revealed that an overwhelming (97.50%) possess medium level of legal awareness on farmbased agri inputs related information, followed by high level (2.5%) of awareness.