Pusa AgriScience Vol.

32, 83-86, 2009

Comparative Analysis of Profile Characteristics of

Organic and Inorganic Farmers
D. Jagannathan+, Ram Bahal* and R.N. Padaria
Division of Agricultural Extension, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012

Abstract
The popularity of organic farming is gradually increasing and now organic agriculture is practiced in almost all
states of the country, and its share of agricultural land and farms is growing. The study was conducted to find out
the significant difference between profile characteristics of organic and inorganic farmers. A total of 240 farmers
comprising 120 organic farmers and 120 inorganic farmers drawn randomly from 8 taluks of four districts in
Tamil Nadu, namely, Kancheepuram, Erode, Dindigul and Karur constituted the sample for the study. Significant
differences were observed between organic and inorganic farmers in the profile characteristics like education,
livestock possession, extension orientation, mass media exposure, economic motivation, risk orientation,
environmental orientation, level of aspiration and belief in organic farming at 1 per cent level.

Key words: Profile characteristics, organic farmers, inorganic farmers.

Introduction started advocating organic farming in major crops.

Organic agriculture is a unique production
management system which promotes and
enhances agro eco-system health, including bio-
diversity, biological cycles and soil biological
activity and this is accomplished by using on-farm
agronomic, biological and mechanical methods
in exclusion of all synthetic off -farm inputs
(FAO, 1993). Over the years, organic farming is
progressing along two independent streams.
The first stream emanates from sustainable
agriculture and development oriented NGOs
perceiving organic agriculture as a development
tool for poverty reduction among small and
marginal farmers, through a self reliant production
system. The second stream comprised of a few
enterprising farmers with a view to capture its
export opportunities. There is a distinct
movement in Tamil Nadu among the farmers,
agriculture experts and scientists in favour of
organic farming. NGOs, Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, State Department of Agriculture and
other government and private agencies have
+Part
of the Ph.D. thesis submitted to the PG School, IARI, New
Delhi
*Corresponding author
In Tamil Nadu, 4006.2 hectares of cultivated land
were under certified organic and another 3661.054
hectares were under conversion in the year 2007-
08 (NCOF, 2008). This constitutes 0.20 per cent
of net cultivated area of the state. Practice of
organic farming depends on the farmers’
characteristics. What are the profile characteristics
of organic farmers and how they are different
from inorganic farmers becomes an important
issue to be explored. The study was undertaken
to find out the significant difference between
profile characteristics of organic and inorganic
farmers.
Methodology
A total of 240 farmers comprising 120
organic farmers and 120 inorganic farmers drawn
randomly from 8 taluks of four districts, namely,
Kancheepuram, Erode, Dindigul and Karur
constituted the sample for the study. Two taluks
namely, Chengalpattu and Madurantagam of
Kancheepuram and two taluks namely,
Sathiyamangalam and Bavani of Erode were
selected purposively considering the maximum
number of organic paddy growers. Likewise, two
taluks namely, Dindigul and Attur of Dindigul
84 Jagannathan et al.
and two taluks such as Kulithalai and
Krishnarayapuram of Karur were selected
purposively on account of maximum number of
organic banana growers. Based on the list of
organic farmers collected from Non
Governmental Organizations, Krishi Vigyan
Kendras and experts on organic farming 15
organic farmers were selected randomly from each
taluk. For comparative analysis, 15 inorganic
farmers were also interviewed in the same locale
where organic farmers were interviewed.
Based on the review of literature, discussion
with experts and observation made by the
researcher, seventeen profile characteristics were
identified for organic and inorganic farmers and
they were measured with the help of
measurement devices developed by the
researchers. Mean values of all the profile
characteristics were calculated for doing
comparative analysis.
Results and Discussion
To know the significant difference between
profile characteristics of organic and inorganic
farmers ‘Z’ test was performed. The hypotheses
were as below:
Null hypothesis (H0): There is no significant
difference between the characteristics of organic
and inorganic farmers
Alternate hypothesis (H1): There is significant
difference between the characteristics of organic
and inorganic farmers
The mean values, mean score difference and
Z values are presented in Table 1. It is observed
from the table that out of seventeen variables
included in the test nine variables, namely,
education, livestock possession, extension
orientation, mass media exposure, economic
motivation, risk orientation, environmental
orientation, level of aspiration and belief in
organic farming were having significant difference
between organic and inorganic farmers at 1 per
cent level.
Out of these nine variables, seven variables,
namely, education, livestock possession, extension
orientation, mass media exposure, risk orientation,
environmental orientation and belief in organic
farming were having higher mean values for
organic farmers and are significantly different
from inorganic farmers. Two variables namely,
economic motivation and level of aspiration were
having higher mean values for inorganic farmers
and they were significantly different from organic
farmers.
It is seen from the Table 1 that organic
farmers had better education than inorganic
farmers with the mean score difference of 0.48
(Z= 2.766). Those who were educated were aware
of the ill effects of chemical farming. By being
literate in the society and experiencing the
negative consequences of chemical farming they
switched over to organic farming.
There was significant difference between
organic and inorganic farmers with respect to
livestock possession. The mean score difference
was 17784.17 (Z=4.273). For practicing organic
farming successfully, livestock is one of the very
important components. Both are complementary
ie. by being organic farmers they were having more
livestock or vice versa by having more livestock
they were practicing organic farming. Moreover,
most of the preparations in organic farming were
based on livestock products like cow dung and
cow urine.
Significant difference existed between
organic and inorganic farmers in extension
orientation with the mean score difference of 2.52
(Z= 6.953). Organic farmers were like cosmo-
politans. Farmers attended many training
programmes which were conducted by Non
Governmental Organizations, Krishi Vigyan
Kendra and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
Visiting other successful farmers’ fields, group
discussion with other farmers and scientists, study
tour to other states were also noteworthy. The
most important thing was weekly farmers’
meeting for farmers at village level to exchange
ideas, problems and solutions related to organic
farming.
Mass media exposure was having a mean
score difference of 1.19 between organic and
 Profile Characteristics of Organic and Inorganic Farmers 85

Table 1. Significant difference between profile characteristics of organic and inorganic farmers
S. No. Profile characteristics Mean values Mean score Z value
Organic (n= 120) Inorganic (n=120) difference

1 Age (in years) 47.82 47.55 0.27 0.182

2 Education 3.08 2.60 0.48 2.766**
3 Farming experience (in years) 23.70 23.87 -0.17 -0.106
4 Farm size (in acres) 8.10 7.08 1.02 1.640
5 Livestock possession (in Rs.) 45602.92 27818.75 17784.17 4.273**
6 Social participation 9.43 9.53 -0.10 -0.325
7 Extension orientation 11.69 9.17 2.52 6.953**
8 Mass media exposure 6.90 5.71 1.19 4.222**
9 Innovativeness 27.70 26.95 0.75 1.248
10 Economic motivation 17.42 18.49 -1.07 -3.109**
11 Risk orientation 18.51 16.63 1.88 5.335**
12 Market orientation 17.27 17.02 0.25 0.747
13 Decision making behaviour 7.23 7.57 -0.34 -1.707
14 Environmental orientation 5.75 4.76 0.99 12.191**
15 Self confidence 20.41 19.73 0.68 1.549
16 Level of aspiration 6.09 6.50 -0.41 -2.422**
17 Belief in organic farming 6.88 5.82 1.06 8.222**
**Significant at P = 0.01

inorganic farmers with Z value of 4.222. Organic
farmers were having the habit of reading different
books, bulletins, booklets, journals, leaflets,
folders etc. related to organic farming. The famous
magazines namely Pasumai vikadan, Naveena
velanmai, Valarum velanmai, Theni (Honey Bee) etc
dealt extensively on organic farming related
success stories. The most important media which
influenced most of the farmers was TV. Makkal
and Podigai TV were broadcasting different
programmes related to Eiyarkai Velanmai (Organic
farming) which influenced most of the farmers.
Significant difference was noticed between
organic and inorganic farmers in economic
motivation with the mean score difference of
1.07(Z= -3.109). Inorganic farmers had the
motive of increasing profit at the cost of other
things. They wanted to increase the profit every
year by adopting modern farming practices.
There was difference in mean score (1.88)
of risk orientation between organic and inorganic
farmers with Z value of 5.335. Organic farmers
had to take various risks to practice organic
farming after following chemical farming for the
past five-six decades. It also required various
preparations for meeting the nutrient
requirements and for managing pests and diseases.
There was significant difference in mean
score (0.99) between organic and inorganic
farmers with Z value of 12.191. Organic farmers
are generally considered to be pro-environ-
mentalists. They treated the mother earth as a
living organism and the farms were nourished with
natural ingredients. Natural resources were used with
care so that the future generations won’t be affected.
Inorganic farmers had better level of
aspiration than organic farmers with mean score
difference of 0.41 (Z = -2.422). Inorganic farmers
felt that increase in land area and increase in
production are the signs of a good farmer. This
might have been the reason for better level of
aspiration of inorganic farmers.
86 Jagannathan et al.
Organic farmers had better belief in organic
farming than inorganic farmers with mean score
difference of 1.06 (Z=8.222). Generally those who
practice something will have positive belief on it
for successful execution. This might have been
the reason for belief in organic farming.
It is concluded from this study that organic
farmers were significantly different from inorganic
farmers especially in the characteristics like
education, livestock possession, extension
orientation, mass media exposure, economic
motivation, risk orientation, environmental
orientation, level of aspiration and belief in
organic farming. These characteristics should be
taken into consideration while framing agricultural
policies related to organic farming.
References
FAO (1993) Production Year Book. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 453 p.
National Centre of Organic Farming (2008) National
Project on Organic Farming. Annual report (2007-
08). Ghaziabad, 88p. (www.dacnet.nic.in/ncof)