Assessing the Relationship between Profile Characteristics and Occupational Stress among the Farmers of Mahbubnagar District of Telangana State, India

For countries like India, where most agricultural households are small, marginal, medium, or semi-large, equitable agricultural growth is critical. Today, agricultural performance in the country is a major cause of concern, as farming has become financially unsustainable, particularly for small, marginal, and semi-medium farmers. The study was conducted in Mahbubnagar district, Telangana, during 2020-2021 to examine the relationship between farmers' profile characteristics and their occupational stress. Mahbubnagar district was purposively selected from the 31 districts in Telangana due to its high illiteracy rate and backwardness. Occupational stress was found to be more prevalent among cotton farmers, and since most farmers in Mahbubnagar grow cotton, the district was chosen for the study. Within Mahbubnagar, Midjil Mandal was specifically selected from 15 mandalas because of its limited technological advancements and the prevalence of cotton farming. Out of 28 villages, 5 were purposefully chosen for the study. Approximately 5% of farmers from each selected village were included using proportionate random sampling, resulting in a total sample size of 170 farmers. An Ex-post-facto research design was employed, and data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule tailored to the study's objectives. The data were then analyzed, classified, and tabulated. Statistical tools like frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of correlation were used to interpret the findings and draw conclusions. The study found that indebtedness had a positive and significant relationship with occupational stress, while variables such as age, education, farming experience, landholding, and annual income had a negative and significant relationship with stress levels. Family size, mass media exposure, economic motivation, scientific orientation, and risk orientation were found to have no significant relationship with occupational stress among the farmers. These findings suggest the need for debt management programs and enhanced financial literacy among farmers, alongside support for educational and income-generating opportunities to reduce stress and improve financial sustainability.