The Role of Agricultural Credit in the Living Standard of Farmers
A Qualitative Study
Abstract
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The purpose of the study is to explore the role of agricultural credit in farmers' living standards and their experience of agricultural productivity by availing agricultural credit in District Khairpur, Pakistan. This research uses constructivism as an ontological stance and interpretivism as an epistemological position. The interviews were used to collect data from the borrowers and non-borrowers from Khairpur district using purposive sampling. Data is analyzed by Nvivo using thematic analysis to understand the role of agricultural credit in farmers' living standards and their experience of agricultural productivity. The main dimensions explored in this study are Access to Agricultural Credit, Agricultural Sector Performance, Living Standards of Farmers, and Proper Use of Agricultural Credit. Access to agricultural credit is very significant for growing all sorts of crops. The findings show that agricultural production depends on the availability of timely agricultural inputs that require capital. The findings also show that agricultural credit improves living standards, and farmers have become socially stable. This research provides practical implications for farmers' improvement of living standards. Further, managers can help farmers by providing them easy access to agricultural credit and ensuring its proper use to enhance agricultural sector performance.
Keywords:
Agricultural Credit, Agricultural Productivity, Performance of Agricultural Sector, Living Standards of FarmersReferences
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