Abstract:
Landless farmers included in this study are those who still live in the village but became landless during 1985-1990. There are 8 cases presented in this report as case studies. The objectives of the thesis are (1) to study socio-economic background of landless farmers, (2) to indentify social and economic factors leading to farmers decision to sell land, and (3) to study social and economic adjustment pattern of landless farmers after selling their land. The hypothesis are: (1) the decision of the farmers to sell land was based on both social and economic factors, (2) the adjustment pattern of farmers differ from case to case, and (3) the different social and economic conditions of each farmer lead to different adjustment pattern. The voluntaristic Theory of Action of Talcot Parsons is used as the basis for the analytical framework. The push and pull factors leading to the decision to sell land are both social and economic. Similarly, in the adjustment process, social and economic factors are important. Social adjustment is seen in terms of family relations which change drastically in some cases. The observed patterns are: (1) mutual dependency, (2) separation and independency, and (3) overt conflict. Conflict in family relations are due to disagreement in allocations of resources from the sales of land. Relations with neighbors also follow the 3 patterns identified above. But conflicts with neighbors are usually due to land encroachment or border disputes and allocations of resources. Community participation is another indication of social adjustment. Landless farmers make social adjustment by participating in community activity voluntarily or for economic gain. Those who cannot adjust prefer not to participate in community activity. Change in social values in terms of pattern of consumption also reflect the degree of adjustment made after farmers become landless. Economic adjustment is seen, almost in all cases, in change in occupation. Self-employed or wage earners are the pattern. Irregular income makes economic adjustment difficult. In addition, indebtedness is also evident. Reasons for indebtedness include: investment in new occupation, daily consumption requirement, and changing consumption pattern and needs.