As agri-food systems evolve and consumer demand for processed food grows, smallholder farmers face mounting challenges-from climate risks to uncertainties and limited access to inputs and extension services. In this context, contract farming has emerged as a strategic solution to bridge the gap between farmers and dynamic markets by providing assured markets, technical support and value chain integration.

This book critically examines the perceived effects of contract farming on employment generation and poverty reduction, with a particular focus on rural India and empirical insights from West Bengal. It explores the socio-economic and demographic profiles of the contract farmers, their perceptions and the constraints they face within the contract farming arrangements.

Designed for researchers, policymakers, extension professionals, agribusiness practitioners and students. This book offers actionable insights and policy recommendations to make contract farming more inclusive, equitable and sustainable. By combining analytical depth with grounded field experiences, it can serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and reform contract farming in the broader context of rural transformation and agricultural modernisation.

Kausik Pradhan, is an erudite personality in the academic world of Agricultural Extension with his constructive thought, extreme mettle of innovative ideas, research acumen and robust diligence in academics. Presently he is working as a Professor, the Department of Agricultural Extension, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India. He has served as Head, Department of Agricultural Extension, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India for twelve years. He has worked as a key trainer in different training programmes on participatory extension and group dynamics as well as strengthening Farmers' Producer Organisations. He has associated with several mega nationally and internationally funded research and development projects funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Australia-India Educational Council, ICAR-National Agricultural Innovation Project, ICAR-National Agricultural Science Fund project and many more. He has developed his expertise in the areas of Technology Socialisation, Women empowerment, Micro planning, Entrepreneurship management, Natural Resource Management, Value addition and Supply Chain Management, Participatory Extension, Market-led Extension, need-based technology delivery model through Farmers' Producer Organisations. The need-based extension delivery models through Farmers' Producer Organisations are acknowledged by Indian Council of Agricultural Research as Innovative technologies. He has also been an integral part of several trainings, workshops and conferences on Food System Innovation, Sustainable Resilient Farming Systems in Australia, Nepal and Bangladesh. Presently he is serving as the Chief Editor of the prestigious journal, Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. He served as the Associate Editor of several National and International Journals. To his credit he has published so far 149 (one hundred forty-nine) numbers of research papers in reputed national and international journals, contributed 27 (twenty-seven) chapters in different renowned books and co-authored 10 (ten) books. He has also served as the Board of Studies member in the same discipline of different universities. He has also served as selection committee members of other university. He is the reputed external examiners of dissertation work of the PhD and M.Sc students in different universities across the country and abroad. He has delivered Lead lectures in different National Conferences. He has shown his efficiency in case of rendering invited lectures in National level Winter School, Summer School, Training Programmes. Different national-level academic societies also recognize his contribution by conferring awards namely Young Scientist Award, Science Excellence Award, Best Extension Professional Award and many more. He is the prestigious Fellow of International Society for Research and Development, Scholars Academic and Scientific Society and Society of Extension Education. He has visited the countries like Australia, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh.

Basu Anand earned his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Bihar Agricultural University in 2021 and his M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension Education from Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya in 2023. In 2024, he qualified for both the UGC-NET (Adult Education/Andragogy/Non-Formal Education) and the ASRB-NET (Agricultural Extension). He has secured an AIR 28 in the ICAR-SRF (2023) exam and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. (Agriculture) in Agricultural Extension Education from Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. He authored a book titled, “Extension Methods, ICT and Educational Technology” (Elite Publishing House, New Delhi, 2024) and has contributed several book chapters, research papers and popular articles in reputed journals and magazines. He has received multiple national-level recognitions, including the National Young Research Scholar Award (2024), Best Presentation Award at AADEE BHU (2024) and Best Oral and Poster Presentation Awards at the National Seminar on Agricultural Extension for Viksit Bharat (2024), organized by the Society of Extension Education Gujarat. He has actively participated in numerous MOOCs, national and international conferences, workshops and training programs. In 2025, he was selected as a Senior Ambassador by The echo network for the prestigious Sustainability Ambassadors Global Exchange program. He serves as an Editorial Board member of SABUJEEMA (an international multidisciplinary e-magazine) alongside his role as a peer reviewer for the SEEG. He holds lifetime memberships in professional bodies such as the SEE, Agra and SEEG.

1 Background
2 Prologue
3 Literature Cited
4 Theories and Associated Concepts
5 Methods
6 Tools and Techniques
7 Empirical and Descriptive Outcomes
8 Revelation and Recommendation