Abstract

The socio-economic characteristics of dairy farmers shape production practices, technology adoption, and the sustainability of dairy systems. This study profiles 150 farm households in Idukki, Kerala (small = 60; medium = 60; large = 30) selected by stratified random sampling, featuring information on age, gender, family composition, education, landholding, experience, and family labour participation. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed patterns and associations. Most respondents were 40–60 years (56.67%), followed by >60 years (30.00%) and <40 years (13.33%); farm size and age were significantly associated (χ² = 20.50, p < 0.001), with younger farmers concentrated in large farms. Men comprised 78.67% of respondents; nearly all households were married, and family labour was pivotal. Education clustered at secondary level, and landholdings were fragmented, with a majority at ≤1 acre among small/medium farms. Findings underscore a dual structure: resource-constrained smallholders versus younger, better-educated operators at larger scale—implying targeted interventions in fodder access and skills to sustain high altitude dairying.

Keywords : Dairy production; socioeconomics; smallholders; education; landholding; family labour; Idukk