Abstract

The sustainable livelihood links with security to basic human needs, food security, sustainable agricultural practices and poverty has an integrating concept. A large number of tribal communities are bereft of stable livelihood and thus they fall in the category of the vulnerable section of Indian society. Considering this fact, the study was conducted in Sabarkantha district of North Gujarat region of Gujarat state, as the economy of the district is basically dependent on agriculture. The farmers of Sabarkantha district are also innovative as well as enthusiastic in modern agriculture. Secondly, the districts rank first with respect to the tribal population. Looking to the common situation of the inhabited villages for the tribal and non-tribal farmer, 11 villages of Bhiloda and Meghraj talukas, having scheduled tribal population of 41 to 50 range of percentage were selected purposively. Total 220 farmers were selected from these villages (20 farmers in each village). For measuring the agricultural modernization and sustainable livelihood of the tribal and non tribal farmer’s teacher made tests were developed. The thirteen major criteria of agricultural modernization and twelve sub indicators of sustainable livelihood were determined and total 200 score of agricultural modernization and total 300 score of sustainable livelihood was determined by conference method. The results showed that in case of tribal group, there was positively and significant association between the sustainable livelihood and seven criteria for agricultural modernization viz., extent of use of organic fertilizers, farming pattern, seed selection, available modern sources of energy equipments, extent of use of chemical fertilizers, use of plant protection measures and extent of use of improved dairy practices. While in case of non tribal group, all the 13 criteria of agricultural modernization studied were possessed positive and significant association with sustainable livelihood. It indicated the impact of the agricultural modernization on the extent of sustainable livelihood among the non tribal respondents, while it was very low in tribal farmers.

Key words: Bereft, modernization, sustainable livelihood, transition.