owns that much wetlands. The distribution of sample paddy farmers on the basis of their major occupation shows that only 60 percent of them are full time farmers (table 5.1). Again the occupation wise distribution of employed persons from these households shows that only 35 percent of the 156 employed persons are pure cultivators of paddy while the rest of them are engaged in other activities. It is estimated that in more than 95 percent of the farmer households either the cultivators themselves orb bother members from their families have alternative sources of income. Paddy as ab bcrop needs much personal care and strict supervision, which can be expected only from full time farmers. It is one of the major reasons for the reluctance of paddy
