Small Landholders in Punjab: Debt, Distress and Depeasantisation Sidhu R.S.*, Singh Sukhpal** *Dean, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana **Professor, Economics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana JEL Classification: 014, H31, R20 Online published on 16 September, 2014. Abstract Contrary to general perception of aff round prosperity in the agricultural sector of Punjab, small land holders are economically non-viable which has pushed them under economic distress. Using primary and secondary data the poper highlights that the small formers were under heavy debt which pushed them towards suicides. The economic surplus of small farm is too low ta meet their production and consumption requirements. As a result the process of depeasantisation started. In woke of slow employment growth in industriol and service sectors and poor skills af such formers, their economic Viability shall have to be improved through pramotion of rurol non-form activities. Similarly, reduction in cost of production by reducing investments in farm machinery through expansion of cooperative agro-machinery service centres, which are currently running successfully under Primary Cooperative Credit Societies, can help improve economic viability of such holdings. Top Keywords Small farmers, debt, suicide, depeasanatisation. Top |