A Study on Analysis of Oil Palm Growers Profile Characteristics Adopting Oil Palm Technologies in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

India is significantly pushing the oil palm cultivation in the various states to reduce external dependence and uplift farmers' livelihood. This study was conducted to examine the socio-personal, economic and psychological profile of oil palm growers in the state. An ex post facto research design was adopted and data were collected from 168 respondents across three major oil palm growing districts Vizianagaram, Eluru, and Nellore. The results revealed that most oil palm growers were middle-aged (55.95%), had medium to large landholdings and had farming (83.93%) as their primary occupation. Regarding education levels, nearly 20.83 per cent of growers had education only up to middle or high school. A majority of the farmers (43.45%) had more than a decade of experience in oil palm cultivation, medium levels of extension contact and training exposure. Regarding psychological profile, most growers had medium levels of economic motivation, innovativeness, risk orientation, scientific orientation and self-confidence. These variables are crucial as oil palm is a long-term and capital-intensive crop. Extension strategies and policy makers should focus differently on different segments of the farmers and also strengthen the psychological readiness through motivation-based training, peer-to-peer outreach and behaviourally informed policy support.