An Analytical Study of Relationship between Socio-Economic Profile and Impact of Minimum Support Price Scheme on Small Farmers of Begusarai District of Bihar

Minimum Support Price fixed by the government to protect the farmers against excessive fall in price during bumper production years. Questions, are being raised about the efficacy and effectiveness of the instruments of price policy specifically the Minimum Support Prices. Under these circumstances it assumes greater significance to understand the impact caused by the minimum support prices on small farmers with socio-economic scale. Total of 60 beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries was selected in Teghara block of Bihar district by purposive sampling method. The primary data were collected with the help of interview schedule and the responses were recorded, classified and tabulated and appropriate statistical tools were employed. The results showed that higher percentage of small farmers were middle aged, attained middle school level education and had low income, the beneficiaries who had primary school level education with high farm experience, present near to the market and contacted extension agents had been sought to have more impacted.