A Study on Profile Characteristics of Tribal Farmers in Kalrayan Hills of Tamil Nadu, India
P. Kaviya
*
Department of Agricultural Extension, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu-608 002, India.
M. Natarajan
Department of Agricultural Extension, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu-608 002, India.
P. Ragulprasath
Department of Agricultural Extension, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu-608 002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The study aimed to assess the socio-economic, psychological and communication profile characteristics of tribal farmers residing in the Kalrayan Hills of Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, to generate baseline information for effective agricultural extension and tribal development interventions.
Study Design: Descriptive research design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in selected tribal villages of the Kalrayan Hills, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, during the year 2023–2024.
Methodology: A multi-stage purposive sampling technique was employed for the selection of respondents. A total of 300 tribal farmers were selected from ten villages using proportionate random sampling. Primary data were collected through personal interviews using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule administered in the local language (Tamil). Variables such as age, education, occupational status, annual income, landholding size, farming experience, social participation, extension contact, socio-economic status, cosmopoliteness, mass media exposure, information source utilization, fatalism and achievement motivation were studied. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.
Results: The results revealed that more than half of the respondents (52.33%) were middle-aged, and a majority (55.00%) were illiterate. Most respondents (90.67%) depended primarily on agriculture and allied activities, with 70.67% belonging to the low-income category. A large proportion were small farmers (69.33%) with high farming experience (55.33%) and belonged to joint families (78.00%). Low levels of social participation (85.67%), extension agency contact (66.33%), cosmopoliteness (59.33%) and information source utilization (55.67%) were observed among the respondents. While mass media exposure was predominantly medium (70.67%), psychological analysis showed high fatalism (70.67%) and low achievement motivation (74.67%) among the tribal farmers.
Conclusion: The study concludes that tribal farmers of the Kalrayan Hills are characterised by low socio-economic status, limited institutional linkage and dominant traditional belief systems. Strengthening extension services, improving educational access, enhancing information dissemination and promoting motivational interventions are essential to improve their livelihood capabilities and facilitate sustainable agricultural development.
Keywords: Socio-economic profile, agricultural livelihood, extension contact, tribal farmers and fatalism