A Study on Livelihood Security Status of Farm Families in Bikaner Division of Rajasthan State

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.112.4

Abstract:
Context: Livelihood security refers to having sufficient and stable access to food, cash, and resources to meet basic needs, along with reserves and assets to manage risks, shocks, and emergencies (Harishkumar, 2012). It encompasses the ability to fulfill essential requirements such as food, health, shelter, minimal income, education, and community participation (Beevi and Rohit, 2018). Key aspects of livelihood security include economic stability, food security, educational access, health security, safe housing, and social network support. According to Bhavya (2019), the concept of farm household livelihood security offers a comprehensive framework for understanding poverty, malnutrition, and the dynamic survival strategies employed by households. This approach underscores the need for holistic agricultural development that integrates economic, social, and ecological dimensions. Objective: To assess status of livelihood security of farm families. Method: The study was conducted in Bikaner Division of Rajasthan State, comprising Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, and Anupgarh districts. Among these, Bikaner and Hanumangarh districts were selected purposively. From Bikaner district, Lunkaransar Panchayat Samiti was selected randomly using the lottery method, while Sangaria Panchayat Samiti was selected similarly from Hanumangarh district. Five villages were randomly selected from each block, namely Sehniwala, Rojhan, Bhadera, Peepera, and Kapoorisar from Lunkaransar block, and Bolanwali, Bakhrawali, Santpura, Chak Heera Singh Wala, and Indergarh from Sangaria block. From each selected village, 30 farm families were chosen through random sampling, with the head of the household as the respondent, resulting in a total sample of 300 respondents for the study. Results & Discussion: The findings of the study revealed that farm families in the study area were largely food secure, with regular meal consumption and adequate intake of cereals and vegetables; however, fruit consumption and overall food quality remained comparatively low, indicating the need for dietary diversification to improve nutritional well-being. Nutritional security analysis showed moderate to high household dietary diversity, dominated mainly by cereals and vegetables, while fruits were consistently under-consumed in both Bikaner and Hanumangarh districts, highlighting gaps in micronutrient intake. In both districts, households reported regular consumption of cereals and vegetables, moderate intake of pulses and milk, and inadequate fruit consumption, suggesting the need for awareness generation and improved accessibility to fruits. Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment indicated that the majority of children (up to 5 years) and adult women (18 years and above) maintained normal nutritional status; however, the prevalence of undernutrition among children, particularly in Bikaner district, emerged as a concern, emphasizing the importance of strengthening preventive nutrition programs and ensuring access to protein- and micronutrient-rich foods. Economic security of farm families was observed to be moderate, with most households earning an annual income between ₹1–3 lakh, possessing moderate levels of productive and non-productive assets, manageable debt levels, and varying degrees of satisfaction with their financial conditions, thereby underscoring the need for income diversification, financial inclusion, and asset-building interventions. Health security was also found to be moderate, as households experienced occasional illnesses, limited access to healthcare facilities, partial availability of medical supplies, and financial constraints that restricted the use of professional healthcare services, pointing to the need for strengthened rural health infrastructure and affordable medical care. Educational security reflected widespread access to primary education but limited opportunities for higher and vocational education, coupled with affordability constraints, literacy gaps, and intergenerational educational disadvantages, highlighting the need for policy support to expand higher education infrastructure, vocational training, targeted subsidies, and comprehensive literacy programs. Overall, comparative analysis of livelihood security dimensions revealed that food and economic security were relatively stronger, whereas health and education security remained weaker, indicating the necessity for balanced development strategies that prioritize nutrition-sensitive interventions, rural healthcare services, and equitable educational opportunities alongside existing gains in food and income security.

Keywords:
Livelihood Security, Farm Families, Food and Nutritional Security, Economic Security, Rural Livelihoods

Article Info:
Received: 30 Jan 2026; Received in revised form: 27 Feb 2026; Accepted: 05 Mar 202; Available online: 13 Mar 2026

Cite this Article: