Social Impact of Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies (PACS) in Nadia District of West Bengal

Aims: The researcher has endeavored to analyze impacts of PACS in-terms of selected social parameters using perception of the sample respondents. The study is significant to evaluate the perception of members PACS.

Place and Duration of Study: The researchers have employed 290 members in 29 PACS out of the 365 operating PACS found in the Nadia district of West Bengal. Primary data for the study have been collected during 2017-2019.

Methodology: The researchers have employed a multi-stage random sampling technique for selecting 290 members in 29 PACS in the Nadia district of West Bengal. The Likert-scale used with 5 points in the questionnaire in which, the respondents were required to grade the scale of their satisfaction for particular thing. Data have been standardized for in the study with Zero mean and Unit Standard Deviation. Qualitative as well as quantitative techniques of data analysis were used to describe and analyze the research questions. The data collected from household survey were organized, coded and entered into statistical package, TANAGRA and Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as, frequency distribution, percentages etc. multivariate analyses for data reduction, Principal Component Analysis, K-means Cluster Analysis, analyses related to Group Characterization have been done to arrive meaningful interpretations for conclusions of the study.

Results: The score obtained from the PCA are then grouped through cluster analysis. Social perception is to arrange the score according to deviations from Standard Deviation (SD). More than 76 percent of the total members fall in the group implying the perception of the members on social development by PACS is mostly homogeneous in nature. The researcher has find two variables namely, PACS role on empowering women in decision making and PACS Social business with other rural institutions comprise the first factor. Similarly second factor consist of the two (2) variables namely, PACS role in sensitizing women leadership in PACS management and role in skill development of women though training/ handholding etc. The second factor may be viewed as the factor of woman empowerment.

Conclusion: The study concludes that PACS play important role in social development of the family. Most of the members agreed upon the positive role of the PACS Empowering women in decision making, Generating awareness of ongoing social development schemes of Government, Mobilizing of weaker sections, Educating Co-operative principles and Social business with other rural institutions. Moreover, PACS help to improve education level and improve habit of agricultural loan at the time of cash requirement particularly during peak season of agricultural operations.