Personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of distress farmers’ of Osamanabad district of Marathawada region, Maharashtra

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Osmanabad district of Marathawada region during 2017-18 where the maximum number of farmers suicides occurred in last two years. From Osamanabad two talukas viz. Osamanabad and Tulajapur were selected purposively as there was maximum farmers suicides in these areas. Similarly, four villages from each taluk were selected purposively. From each village ten respondents were selected. The study was conducted using the Ex-post-facto research design. The data was collected using the pretested structured interview schedule and it was tabulated and analyzed using the frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, mean and total score. It was observed from the study that, Majority of the farmers were from middle age (63.75%) and medium farming experience (62.50%), annual income (86.25%), education of farmer had secondary school (45.00%), SC/ST/NT and OBC castes of the respondents are (22.50%), majority of marginal farmers land holding (47.50%), medium size of family (71.25%), nuclear family type (82.50%), no source of irrigation facility (62.50%), majority of the farmer low level social participation is (47.50%). The majority of the farmer extension contact low (41.25%), majority of the farmer asset possession low (68.75%), medium level of cropping intensity (83.75%), medium levels of economic motivation (72.50%), deferred gratification were found (77.50%) in middle category, management orientation of the farmer is middle level (78.75%), farmers found in middle level of the indebtedness (81.25%), majority of the farmer engaged in farming and farm labors (87.50%).