Socio-economic transformation through National Food Security Mission in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, India

Augmenting agricultural productivity is the goal of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Government of India. The aim of the present study was to analyse the socio-economic changes brought about by NFSM in 2022 in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Karnataka. For this, 160 beneficiary farmers and 80 non-beneficiary farmers from both states were part of personal interviews and focused group discussions. The socio-economic trans-formation was higher for beneficiary farmers in terms of annual income, occupational status, crop diversifica-tion, earning members, material possession, agricultural productivity and access to the programme than for non-beneficiary farmers of both states. Comparative analyses of the transformation of beneficiary farmers in Karnataka and UP revealed significant changes in the socio-economic indicators, except earning members, education, social participation and agricultural produc-tivity. The changes brought about by this Mission, be-fore and after its launch, revealed a significantly higher socio-economic impact on the beneficiary farmers.