Socio-Economic Impact of Agricultural Well Electrification on Tribal Farmer Livelihoods: Evidence from Dahod District, Gujarat

Abstract

Access to reliable electricity for agricultural irrigation remains a critical but underexplored determinant of rural livelihood improvement in tribal India. While the benefits of rural electrification have been documented across India, evidence on its welfare impacts among Scheduled Tribe farming communities in water-scarce districts of western India remains scarce. This study examined the socio-economic impact of agricultural well electrification under Electricity Company’s URJA programme in Dahod district, Gujarat. A cross-sectional survey of 315 beneficiary farmers across eight villages was conducted using a structured interview schedule, with data analysed through descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests across income groups. Findings indicate that 73.1% of respondents reported substantial reductions in irrigation costs following the transition from diesel to electric pumping, and household income increased approximately threefold post-electrification. Crop diversity expanded markedly, from approximately two crops to between seven and ten, with farmers transitioning toward vegetables, horticulture, and floriculture. Significant variation in service satisfaction was observed across income groups, with lower-income farmers reporting disproportionately higher maintenance cost burdens. These findings demonstrate that targeted agricultural well electrification can deliver meaningful welfare gains for tribal smallholders, while highlighting the need for complementary support in maintenance access and value chain development to ensure equitable distribution of programme benefits.