Participation of Tharu community in agriculture: A case study of Patabhar VDC, Bardiya District, Nepal

Abstract

The topic of the study is “Participation of Tharu Community in Agriculture: A Case Study of Patabhar VDC, Bardiya District, Nepal.” For this purpose, Patabhar VDC of Bardiya district was selected. The general objective of the study is to fine out the socio-economic status of the Tharu community. The specific objectives of the study are to analyse the participation level of Tharu community in agriculture and to provide a suggestion of agro-forestry for their better agriculture. There are 1062 household of Tharu in Patabhar VDC and among them 50 households were selected randomly for this study. This study was done on the basis of both qualitative and quantitative data with appropriate interpretation. Description and analytic method are used in this study. Data collection techniques and tools for the collection of data, household sample survey, key information interview and observation and focus group discussion were adopted as techniques. And to perform those techniques, structured and semi-structure, questionnaire were prepared. From study, it has found that agriculture is the main occupation of Tharu community. In the study area, subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity of the Tharus but they have not sufficient land for feed them self. Besides the agriculture they work as wage labour and other subsidiary economic activities, animal husbandry, fishing, manufacturing, handicrafts and portage. From study, it has been found that, agriculture is the main occupation of Tharu comprising of 56% but nowadays their main occupations are also directed in doing different tasks. Most of them 54% have not sufficient land for survival so they do labour and service work.Literate population of Tharu in the study area is 74%. It shows 80% males and 68% females are literate. out of literate population, most of them 50% have completed only up to primary school level and then they have stopped further study. 74% of family members are living in joint family and rest in nuclear family. Arrange marriage is expensive so they have given priority to love marriage. Tharus are religiously Hindu and worship to Hindu God and Goddess. Their culture is same as Brahmin and Chhetri. They use common dress and ornaments like Brahmin and Chhetri. Although their mother language is Tharu, they can also speak Nepali. To conclude, provision of irrigation facility is important because it besides large and small farms, benefits marginal and even near landless farmers by allowing employment for them in multiple cropping systems, cultivation of marketable crops i.e. higher productivity by intensive methods. It ultimately helps to check the landlessness of these groups. The concept of agro-forestry farming can be problem solving alternative for the resource less groups. The forest adjoining the village area is a very thin forest. Some parts of it have been already captured by encroaching landless people. Such forest areas could be utilized to developed agro-forestry. If the land under such forest areas is improved to the targeted groups on long term lease they could develop activities like fruit crops, nursery establishment, herbal farming, certain agricultural crops, fuel wood tress and livestock roaring. Since, the Tharu are traditionally agricultural and forest loving people, they could be attracted to such activities and this approach ultimately benefits the people below the poverty line. Livestock rearing of improved breeds can be an important income generating source. So, the Tharus should be motivated towards raising buffaloes, goats, pigs etc. So, government should provide low interest loan for them.