Socio-personal and economic profile of ITK practicing dairy farmers in Palghar district of Maharashtra

The present study was conducted in Palghar district of Maharashtra with the sample size of 120 tribal dairy farmers. Out of eight blocks in Palghar district three tribal blocks namely Dahanu, Talasariand and Jawhar, two villages from each block and 20 respondents (who had at least one milch animal at the time of study) were selected randomly. It was found that the majority (70.00%) of the farmers were old (>50 years), illiterate (57.50%) with medium family size (61.67%) having 7 to 11 members in the family living in joint families (98.33%). Agriculture with dairying was the main occupation of the respondents (97.51%); most of them (65.83%) were small farmers (1–2 ha landholding) and all had cattle. It was observed that the milk production was very low as majority of the households (85.00%) got only less than 1 litre milk per day whereas 73.33 per cent households consumed medium level of milk (1–2 litres). Majority of the respondents (66.67%) did not sell milk. The annual income of majority (80.00%) of the respondents was low (up to Rs 31, 000). Majority of the farmers (87.50 and 76.67%) were having medium level of exposure to mass media and extension contact respectively. But their (65.83%) social participation was low.