Socio-economic profile of dairy co-operative members of Kolhapur district

Dairy farming plays an important role in social and economic livelihood of dairy farmers. The present study was conducted in Kagal, Karveer and Hatkanagle tahsils of Kolhapur district of Maharashtra state. Responses from 150 milk producing farmers were collected from 15 villages and Ex post facto design of social research was used for the present investigation. The results indicated that majority (62.67 %) of the dairy members belonged to middle age group, 37.34 per cent of them were educated up to secondary level. About twothird (64.67 per cent) farmers had medium size of family. Majority (78.67 %) of dairy co-operative members had medium annual income. More than half (57.34 per cent) of them possessed medium herd size. Sixty per cent members of dairy co-operatives had dairy farming experience. Some (38.67%) farmers had small size land holding. About 56 % and 55.33 % members had a medium risk orientation and extension contact score, while majority (49.33% and 66.00 %) of dairy co-operatives members had a medium social participation and social economic impact respectively. It was concluded that majority of the members were having medium level of socio-economic profile.