Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Shital M Londhe and Kadam RP

Abstract:
Maharashtra is leading state in adopting organic farming practices since from the year 2002-03. In the year 2021-22, in the area under of organic cultivation (Cultivation + Wild harvest), Maharashtra ranked third with production of 691419.72 MT, making the Maharashtra stands second highest producer of organic products. Hence the research objective was formulated to study the profile of farmers following organic practices in Marathwada region. An ex-post facto research design was used for the present investigation. Study was conducted in Aurangabad, Beed and Nanded district of Marathwada region in year 2021-22 data were collected from the 180 respondents. The findings suggested that, more than one third (34.45%) of the respondents educated up to higher secondary school (11^th to 12^th), more than half (52.22%) of the respondents had small size families, majority (96.11%) of the respondents had agriculture as a major occupation, near about half (49.45%) of the respondents belonged to small category of land holding, near about half (47.77%) of the respondents had annual income between Rs. 1,26,667 to Rs. 2,13,332/-. Majority (60.56%) of the respondents had small area under organic cultivation, more than three fourth (71.66%) of the respondents were having up to 8 years of farming experience, more than half (60.55%) of the respondents belonged to medium category of the social participation, more than three fifth (61.11%) of the respondents belonged to medium category of the mass media exposure, near about two third (63.89%) of the respondents belonged to medium category of the scientific orientation, majority (62.22%) of the respondents belonged to medium category of the economic motivation, more than two third (69.44%) of the respondents belonged to medium category of the innovativeness, majority (65.55%) of the respondents belonged to medium category of the knowledge. Regarding variables namely education, annual income, social participation, mass media exposure, scientific orientation, economic motivation, innovativeness and knowledge having positively and high significantly related with the attitude towards organic farming while area under organic cultivation were positive and significant relationship with the attitude towards organic farming.