Socio-economic status of papaya growers and growth trends in area, production and productivity: Evidence from North-Eastern Karnataka

Introduction

India's diverse climatic condition ensures year-round availability of a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables making it the second-largest producer in the world, after China. India achieved a remarkable production of 112.97 million metric tonnes of fruits, cultivated across 7.13 million hectares of land during 2023-24 (FAOSTAT, 2024) [1] . According to the FAO (2024), India is leading country in the production of bananas (33%), mangoes (22%), citrus fruits (12-13%) and papayas (6%). Papaya (Carica papaya L.), often celebrated for its nutritional value and vibrant appeal, plays a pivotal role in the agricultural economy of India. It is originated in tropical America and was introduced in India in the sixteenth century. Among the major fruits cultivated globally, papaya contributes approximately 14.65 million tonnes of production (FAOSTAT, 2024) [1] . India with a diverse range of papaya varieties cultivated, some displaying vibrant colors, exceptional taste and numerous health benefits the fruit is often referred to as the "fruit of angels" and is cultivated in various regions of the country. Being highly perishable, papayas ripen swiftly, especially in warm climates and have a short shelf life. It is estimated that around 25-30 per cent of papaya production is lost during harvesting and post-harvest processes. Implementing proper handling procedures from harvest to market can significantly mitigate these losses and ensure that consumers' receive high-quality fruits, thereby helping farmers to fetch better prices for their produce. Papaya is a significant tropical fruit cultivated in almost every country around the globe. Global papaya production has grown significantly over the last few years, mainly as a result of increased production in India. Papaya has become an important agricultural export for developing countries, where in export revenues of the fruit provide a livelihood for thousands of people, especially in Asia and Latin America. The leading papaya-producing countries in the world include India (38.64%), Dominican Republic (9.27%), Mexico (8.24%), Brazil (8.01%), Indonesia (7.88%) and Nigeria (6.34%) (Papaya Production by Country, 2026). In India, the area under papaya cultivation spans 1.48 lakh hectares with a production volume of approximately 52.92 lakh tonnes, accounting for 38.64 per cent of the total world production (FAOSTAT, 2024) [1] . The major papaya-producing states in India are Andhra Pradesh (21.91%), Gujarat (17.05%), Madhya Pradesh (10.37%), Maharashtra (10.30%), Karnataka (7.63%) and Chhattisgarh (6.23%). (https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in) Understanding the socio-economic profile of papaya growers is essential for designing targeted developmental programmes and extension strategies suited to the specific needs of the farming community. Equally important is an analysis of the growth trends in area, production, and productivity of papaya, which provides valuable insights into the performance of the crop over time and helps identify the factors driving or constraining its expansion. Despite the growing importance of papaya cultivation in North-Eastern Karnataka, systematic empirical studies examining the socio-economic characteristics of growers and the growth dynamics of the crop in this region remain limited. In view of the above, the present study was undertaken with www.extensionjournal.com the objectives of examining the socio-economic status and cropping pattern of sample papaya growers and analyzing the growth trends in area, production, and productivity of papaya in North-Eastern Karnataka. The findings of the study are expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the papaya crop in the region.

Methodology 2.1 Sampling design 2.2.1 Selection of the districts

The study employed a multistage random sampling approach to design the sampling framework. Initially, four districts namely Ballari, Koppal, Raichur and Kalaburagi were chosen based on the highest area under papaya crop within the North -Eastern Karnataka region.

Selection of the taluks

Two taluks were choosen from each district considering their substantial area under papaya cultivation and potential production, in consultation with the officials of Raitha Samparka Kendra, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Agricultural Extension Education Centers of respective taluks. In the third stage, ten farmers were randomly chosen from these selected taluks to ensure representation across different villages. The village selection within the chosen taluks was guided by the insights of horticulture officers and market intermediaries ensuring a thorough assessment of papaya cultivation potential and grower concentration. Thus, total sample size of papaya cultivators was 80 consisting 20 farmer respondents from each district along with 20 market intermediaries representing 5 respondents each from the selected districts were chosen for eliciting required marketing information. Thus, the total sample of 100 respondents constituting 80 papaya cultivators and 20 market intermediaries were chosen for the study.

Analytical techniques employed 2.2.1 Tabular Presentation

The gathered data were organized into tables to facilitate easy and effective comparisons. Tabular analysis was carried out to study the general characteristics of sample farmers and also to examine the investment pattern, procurement expenses, inventory costs, other expenditures and returns. Statistical tools such as averages and percentages were employed to summarize the data to derive meaningful inferences.

Compound Annual Growth Rate analysis

For analyzing the growth trend in area in different crop groups across the study area, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) analysis was used. Similarly, (Nadkarni and Deshpande, 1982) [18] used the CAGR to calculate the growth. It was calculated using the formula, ……………

Where, Y t =Dependent variable for which the growth rate is estimated (area, production and productivity of papaya).

a= Intercept b=Regression coefficient t = Time in year1,2,3,…,n. U t = Disturbance term for the years t.

The compound growth rate was obtained from the logarithmic form of the equation (1) as below

The per cent compound growth rate was derived using the relationship With respect to educational status, a significant proportion of farmers (38.75%) had pursued college-level education or higher, particularly in Ballari (45%), Kalaburagi (40%), and Koppal (40%). Farmers with high school education comprised 31.25 per cent of the sample, while 20 per cent had completed primary education. Illiteracy was relatively low at 10 per cent, though Raichur recorded a slightly higher proportion (15%). The relatively higher educational attainment among the sample farmers is expected to positively influence their ability to adopt modern and improved farming practices. Regarding land holdings, the majority of farmers (62.5%) possessed small holdings of less than 2 hectares, with Ballari recording the highest share (70%) and Koppal the lowest (55%). Farmers with medium-sized holdings (2-4 ha) accounted for 27.5 per cent, while those with large holdings (above 4 ha) comprised a relatively smaller proportion of 17.5 per cent. The average land holding size across the study districts was 2.18 hectares, with Ballari having the highest average (2.52 ha) and Raichur the lowest (1.98 ha), reflecting the predominantly small and marginal nature of papaya growers in the region.

Economic status and social composition of sample farmers

The occupational status of papaya growers is presented in Table 3.2. It indicates that the majority of farmers across the study districts were primarily engaged in agriculture as their main occupation. Overall, 92.50 per cent of the respondents were involved in agriculture, while a small proportion (7.50 per cent) had secondary occupations other than agriculture.

The economic profile of papaya producers is also presented in Table 3.2. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers (57.50%) across the four districts had an annual income ranging from Rs. 2.01 to 4.00 lakh. About 10 per cent of farmers earned less than Rs. 2.00 lakh annually, whereas 18.75 per cent had annual incomes between Rs.

4.01 to 6.00 lakh, and 13.75 per cent earned more than Rs. 6.00 lakh annually. The distribution of papaya-growing farmers across different social categories, as presented in the table, showed that the largest proportion (42.50%) belonged to the General category, followed by Other Backward Classes (30%). A smaller proportion of farmers belonged to Scheduled Caste (15%) and Scheduled Tribe (12.50%) categories, indicating variation in social representation across the study districts.

Cropping pattern of the sample farmers

The cropping pattern followed by the sample farmers across the study districts is presented in Table 3

Growth in area, production and productivity of papaya

The growth in area, production, and productivity of papaya is presented in Table 3.4 and Fig. 1. At the national level, the area under papaya cultivation increased at a growth rate of 5.06 per cent, while production and productivity increased by 6.77 per cent and 1.63 per cent, respectively. The growth in area, production, and productivity was significant at the 5 per cent level. In Karnataka, the area under papaya cultivation increased by 8.04 per cent, with production registering a growth rate of 31.91 per cent, and both were significant at the 5 per cent level. However, productivity growth in the state was 22.11 per cent, which was significant at the 10 per cent level. Further, in the NEK region, the growth rates in area, production, and productivity were 28.11 per cent, 29.02 per cent, and 28.14 per cent, respectively, and all were significant at the 10 per cent level. The significant growth in productivity in the region indicated improved efficiency in papaya cultivation practices. The district-wise growth in area, production, and productivity is presented in Table 3.4. Ballari district recorded growth rates of 5.76 per cent in area, 30.75 per cent in production, and 23.65 per cent in productivity. The growth in area and productivity was significant at the 5 per cent level, whereas production growth was significant at the 10 per cent level. Koppal district exhibited growth in area and production of 10.35 per cent and 33.84 per cent, respectively, and both were significant at the 5 per cent level. However, productivity growth was comparatively lower (21.35 per cent) and significant at the 10 per cent level. Similarly, Raichur district recorded the highest growth in area (12.38 per cent) and production (41.28 per cent), with both being significant at the 10 per cent level. Productivity growth in Raichur was 22.26 per cent and was significant at the 5 per cent level. The district stood out with the highest growth in area and production, indicating successful expansion of papaya cultivation along with improved productivity. Kalaburagi district also showed significant growth in area, production, and productivity of papaya, with growth rates of 9.32 per cent, 34.20 per cent, and 22.78 per cent, respectively, all significant at the 5 per cent probability level. Overall, Ballari and Raichur demonstrated strong growth in both area and production, accompanied by significant improvements in productivity. Although Karnataka exhibited higher growth in area, production, and productivity, the national-level growth in papaya productivity was comparatively lower. This indicates that Karnataka, particularly districts such as Raichur, Kalaburagi, and Ballari, outperformed the national average in papaya production during the study period.

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