Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

Organic turmeric cultivation is an important component of farming systems in Hingoli district, Maharashtra. The present study was undertaken to examine the socio-economic characteristics of organic turmeric growers in Hingoli district of Maharashtra. Hingoli district was purposively selected because of its importance in turmeric cultivation and the presence of organic turmeric growers. Basmath and Aundha Nagnath tehsils and eight villages were selected. A total of 120 organic turmeric growers were selected. Primary data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested structured interview schedule for the agricultural year 2025–26. The socio-economic characteristics considered in the study included age, gender, education, family size, landholding, occupation, livestock position, farm buildings and cropping pattern. The collected data were analysed using frequency, percentage and descriptive measures. The findings showed that the majority of organic turmeric growers were male and belonged to the middle-aged group. Most of the respondents had formal education, with secondary education constituting the largest proportion, while agriculture was the principal occupation of the majority of the growers. Organic turmeric cultivation was mainly practised by small and semi-medium landholding farmers, who together accounted for 71.66 per cent of the respondents. The average family size was 5.64 members per household. Livestock formed an important component of the farming system, with cows constituting the major share, followed by buffaloes and bullock pairs. Residential houses were available to all respondents, and cattle sheds and engine pump houses were also present. Among farm implements, weeding hooks and sickles were the most commonly available implements. The growers followed a diversified cropping pattern across Kharif, Rabi, summer and annual seasons, with turmeric occupying the largest area among individual crops at 0.98 ha (22.95%). The cropping intensity was 149.33 per cent, indicating effective utilization of available land through multiple cropping. Overall, the study revealed that organic turmeric cultivation was predominantly practiced by middle-aged male farmers belonging to small and semi-medium landholding groups, with agriculture as their major occupation and turmeric occupying an important position in their diversified farming system.