MSc

The study entitled "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tapioca growers in Kerala and
Andhra Pradesh: A comparative study," was conducted during the year 2021-2022. The
objective of the study was to compare the perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tapioca
growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. To analyse personal, socio-psychological
characteristics of tapioca growers and identify its relationship with the extent of COVID-19
impact on them. To delineate the constraints experienced by tapioca growers in Kerala and
Andhra Pradesh during COVID-19 pandemic and to formulate policy prescriptions for
alleviating its adverse impacts.
The study was conducted in two states viz., Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala and East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh was
purposively selected for the study, considering the highest area and production of tapioca. From
the two selected districts one block each was identified for the study based on area and
production of tapioca. Accordingly, from the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kilimanoor block,
and from East Godavari district, Peddapuram block were selected for the study. From each
block three panchayats viz., Pulimath, Pazhayakunnummel, Nagaroor panchayats from
Kilimanoor, and Anuru, C. B. Devam, R. B. Patnam panchayats from Peddapuram were
selected for the study and from each panchayat 20 tapioca growers were selected randomly,
thereby a total of 120 respondents (60 from Kerala and 60 from Andhra Pradesh) was
considered for the study.
One dependent variable i.e., impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pre farmgate and post
farmgate operations and 12 independent variables were selected for this study. Impact of
COVID-19 pandemic on pre-farmgate and post-farmgate operations was measured by
developing a scale for the study, under four dimensions: pre-farmgate operations, post-farmgate
operations, socio-psychological factors, and economic & institutional factors.
Based on the analysis of data obtained from survey, it was found that majority of the
respondents had medium level of impact on pre-farmgate operations in Kerala (78.33%) and
Andhra Pradesh (66.7%). In Kerala post-farmgate operations (73.3%), socio-psychological
factors (78.3%), economic and institutional factors (76.6%) and in Andhra Pradesh postfarmgate operations (76.6%), socio-psychological factors (86.6%), economic and institutional
factors (73.3%) had medium level of impact on COVID-19 pandemic.
Analysis of profile characteristics of tapioca growers revealed that majority (62.5%) of
the respondents were belonged to middle aged category in both Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
More than one third of respondents in Kerala (35%) had secondary school level of education
and in Andhra Pradesh (38.3%) respondents belonged to read and write only category. Majority
(57.5%) of the respondents had high farming experience which was more than eight in both
states. Majority of the respondents were belonged to medium land holding category in Kerala
(43.3%) and large land holding category in Andhra Pradesh (60%). Majority (74.16%) of the
respondents had medium level of economic motivation in both the states. Majority of the
respondents cultivated tapioca in small areas in Kerala (38.3%) and large areas in Andhra
Pradesh (56.6%). Majority of respondents in Kerala (86.6%) belonged to medium information
source utilization pattern whereas in Andhra Pradesh (73.3%) respondents belonged to low
information source utilization pattern. About 63.33 per cent, 80 per cent, 65 percent and 66.6
per cent of respondents had medium level of self-confidence, risk orientation, market
orientation and social participation respectively in both states. Problem solving ability was high
for respondents of Kerala (50%) and medium for respondents of Andhra Pradesh (75%).
From the Mann-Whitney U test, it was revealed that there was significant difference
between Kerala and Andhra Pradesh of tapioca growers in level of impact on COVID-19
pandemic. From factor analysis it was observed that out of four dimensions pre-farmgate
operations and post-farmgate operations were the major components that contributed to level
of impact on COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala whereas in Andhra Pradesh socio-psychological
factors and post-farmgate operations were two major dimensions that contributed towards
impact of COVID-19 pandemic. On performing principal component analysis -biplot of Kerala
and Andhra Pradesh, it was observed that percentage variance explained by PC components on
impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
From the correlation analysis it was revealed that the factors having relationship with
impact of COVID-19 pandemic were age, farming experience, size of landholding, area under
tapioca cultivation, self-confidence, information source utilization, risk orientation, market
orientation and problem solving ability in Kerala whereas in Andhra Pradesh impact of COVID
19 pandemic was having relationship with age, farming experience, size of land holding, area
under tapioca cultivation, information source utilization, and market orientation
Major constraints experienced by the tapioca growers in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh
during COVID-19 pandemic were minimum support price was not fixed by the government to
support tapioca farmers during the pandemic, wild boar attack on tapioca crop during COVID19 pandemic, due to lower demand in the market tapioca was sold at a lower price, labour
shortage in various farming and marketing operations, farmers couldn’t sell their produce to
processing industries, lack of insurance facilities against post-harvest loss.
Policy prescriptions for alleviating adverse impacts in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are
provision of minimum support price, new methods of technologies should be reached through
extension system & media for managing wild boar attack during COVID-19 pandemic, value
addition technologies to convert produce into different forms that have good demand in market,
utilising machinery and by engaging labour that reside within the place of crop production for
overcoming of labour shortage. A platform where tapioca farmers, processing industries make
deals should be provided for tapioca farmers to sell their produce to processing industries,
Government insurance should be provided to tapioca farmers to sustain farming, combat the
situations of pandemics in Andhra Pradesh technical assistance should be improved and make
available all the time, access of tapioca farmers to financial institutions and warehouses should
be encouraged to overcome lack of credit and poor storage facilities, contract farming can be
encouraged where produce is directly procured by industries.