A Study on Socio-economic Characteristics of Crop Insured Farmers of Northern Karnataka

The study was conducted in Karnataka State during 2017-18 by using “Ex-post- facto” research design. Belgavi, Dharwad, Haveri and Vijayapura districts were selected purposely based on more number of insured farmers. Further, two taluks from each district and from each taluk three villages (i.e. total 24 villages) were selected randomly. Sample size for the study was 240. The findings of the study revealed that, majority of the farmers (53.33%) belonged to middle age, 35.42% of them had received middle school education, majority of the insured farmers (94.16%) were not participated in any training, 47.08% of the respondents belonged to medium annual income category and 39.58% of the insured farmers borrowed loan less than 49000 rupees. About 56.67% of the insured farmers belonged to medium land holding category, medium farming experience (37.50%), medium annual income category (47.08%), medium level of extension contact (43.75%), medium level of mass media exposure (44.16%), medium scientific orientation (42.08%), medium category of risk orientation (52.50%) and medium category of organizational participation (45.83%). More than fifty % (51.25%) of the insured farmers belonged to high perception level with respect to extent of climate variation followed by medium (29.58%) and low (19.17%).