Analyzing dairy farmer’s perceptions of constraints in the Ernakulam and Thrissur districts of Kerala during the 2018 floods

An ex post facto investigation was conducted to study the constraints perceived by flood affected dairy farmers of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. Total of 150 livestock farmers were selected from both districts. The information generated through farmer-research interaction formed the items for the structured interview schedule that was used for data collection. A total of 23 such items were generated and these were edited appropriately and grouped under five broad domains viz. economic, communication, technical, infrastructural and socio-psychological constraints before being included in the structured interview schedule. Data were collected by personal interviews on the homestead of the farmers during the months of October, November and December, 2020. Analysis of the data indicated that the high cost of feed and fodder (100%), the non-availability of green fodder during the floods (100%) and feelings of depression among studied farmers (100%) were perceived to be the most important constraints by them. Among the domains the most important constraints perceived by the respondent farmers were economic constraints followed by technical constraints, communication constraints, infrastructural constraints and psychological constraints in the said order. The study sheds light on the importance of both economic inputs coupled with technical support and capacity building among the dairy farmers so as to equip them to face any calamites in future.

• Study covered the constraints of 150 dairy farmers in 20 villages due to flood.

• Variables were collected through personal interview, analyzed with appropriate statistical techniques and grouped in five domains.