Socio-Economic Profile of Vegetable Growers in the Amaravati Division of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

India is an agriculture-based economy, known for possessing its own rich and diverse knowledge about cultivation practices. There has been a rise in the demand for fruits and vegetables by 2-3 percent per annum in recent years. In the background of this market trends, it requires no special emphasis to state that resorting to vegetable cultivation is widely considered as a highly profitable option amongst farming community in India. The present study attempts to scrutinize the socio-economic profile of vegetable growers in the Amaravati division of Maharashtra State. The study was conducted in 10 villages located at Akola and Amravati districts of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state. An exploratory research design of social research was used for conducting the study. The data was collected from 20 respondents by personally interviewing them with the help of structured interview schedule. Information obtained from them was carefully examined, classified, quantified and tabulated. Frequencies, mean, standard deviation were employed for interpreting the results. The findings revealed that, the majority (48.33%) of the vegetable growers were middle aged. High proportion of the respondents (37.50%) were educated up to higher secondary school category (10th to 12th standard). Nearly half (47.50%) of the respondents were having medium family size category (5-6 farmers).  Most of the respondents (30.00%) had annual income between Rs. 2,00,001 to 3,00,000/-.  High proportion of the vegetable growers (45.83%) possessed semi-medium category of land holding (2.01 to 4.00 ha). Nearly half (46.67%) of the vegetable growers had 0.81 to 1.60 ha area under vegetables. Nearly three fourth (65.00%) of the respondents had above 20 years of experience in vegetable cultivation. Most of the respondents (55.83%) belonged to medium category of social participation. Nearly three fourth (77.50%) of the respondents always share information with needy people. Majority (56.67%) of the respondents were having medium source of information. More than half (64.17%) of the respondents were having medium level of Innovativeness. Nearly three fourth (72.50%) of the respondents had medium category of risk orientation.