The Kerala floods of 2018 – exploring the socio-economic characteristics of flood affected dairy farmers in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts

Abstract

An ex post facto investigation into the socio economic characteristics of the flood affected dairy farmers of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts was carried out during the months of October to December in 2020. Ten villages each were selected at random from Ernakulam and Thrissur districts and 75 livestock farmers each from the selected villages were studied. A cross sectional survey design was employed for the study in which data were collected using pretested structured interview schedules. Analysis of data on the socio-economic characteristics of the affected farmers revealed that 79.3 per cent were members of nuclear families and that 60 per cent of them fell in the age group 40-59 years. It was also evident that 56.7 per cent of the affected farmers were women. The educational status of most of the respondents ranged from middle school (25.3 %) to Secondary School (24.7%). Dairying as a primary occupation was reported by 79.3 per cent of the respondents and this was not a new venture for the vast majority of respondents as evidenced by the fact that 86.7 per cent of the them had been engaged in this activity for over 30 years. The annual income from animal husbandry for 48.7 per cent of respondents was between Rupees 30,000 and Rupees 60,000. Majority of the respondents were small land holders (86%) reporting low levels of material possession (69.3%). Many respondents gone through the serious hardship at their relief along with psychologically depressed, so that the intervention of government during post flood is at most important.