Socio personal profile characteristics of coconut growers in Kerala and Maharashtra: A comparative analysis

Abstract

This research paper attempts to compare the socio personal profile characteristics of coconut growers in coconut based farming systems of Kerala and Maharashtra. The primary data on variables like, age, education, major occupation, annual income, land area, farming experience, information seeking behavior, progressiveness, crop diversity, marketing pattern, crop yield security, irrigation status, equipment possession and livestock possession were collected through personal interview method. Majority of the respondents in both states belonged to the old age category, had farming as their major occupation, 50000 to 1 lakh of annual income, farm size between 0.5 to 1 ha and farming experience greater than 10 years. Major category of coconut growers in Kerala had secondary education and Maharashtra had primary level of education. Majority of the respondents in both Kerala and Maharashtra had medium level of information seeking behavior, progressiveness, irrigation status, equipment possession, crop diversity, livestock possession and crop yield security. More respondents in Kerala marketed their produce in the local market, while all respondents in Maharashtra marketed their produce through the local market.