An Assessment of the Inequality in Income and Land Holdings among Rural Rice Farmers of District Swat

The study was conducted in district Swat during 2007 to assess the degree of inequalities existing among rural rice farmers’ income and land holdings. To this end, primary data was collected through structured questionnaire using a sample of one hundred rice farmers allocating to three tehsils selected purposively, each comprising three villages selected on the basis of proportional sampling technique. Lorenz curve approach and Gini-coefficient was used for the measurement of inequality in farmers’ income and land holdings. The results obtained from Lorenz square box and Gini-coefficient indicated higher degree of inequality existing among farmers’ income and size of land holdings. Based on the findings of the study, appropriate land reforms’ structure should be introduced. Government should give incentives to poor farmers for increasing their income which will reduce these inequalities.