A study on the risk perceived by farmers of Punjab Mohapatra Lopamudra*, Dhaliwal RK1, Dhaliwal HS2 Department of Extension Education, Extension and Training Institute Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab 1Directorate of Students Welfare, Extension and Training Institute Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab 2Punjab Agricultural Management, Extension and Training Institute Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab *Email for correspondence: lopa.lopapau83@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 25 July, 2018. Abstract Risk perception encompasses the mental processing of risk information and coping mechanisms that people use in dealing with uncertain outcomes. The risk in Punjab agriculture cannot be defined in a traditional manner as almost entire cultivated area is under assured irrigation. Thus unconventional risk in Punjab agriculture and the farmers’ perception regarding this risk needs to be studied. In the present study risk has been studied under the categories of production, price, financial and technology which is estimated by their prevalence of occurrence as perceived by the farmers. The respondents perceived highest production risk in paddy (mean score 11.31) and maize (mean score 15.70), financial and credit risk in wheat (mean score 11.20) and price or market risk in kinnow (mean score 8.52) and potato (mean score 16.36). Access and availability of agricultural insurance can change the attitude of the farmers and induce in them ability to take decisions which otherwise would not have been taken due to aversion to risk. Such decisions can lead a way to the crop diversification in the state. Top Keywords Risk, risk perception, risk mitigation, agricultural insurance. Top |