Perception of Ajara Ghansal paddy growers regarding GI of Ajara Ghansal paddy

Ajara Taluka in Kolhapur District is located in a rural, economically disadvantaged, and hilly region of the Western Ghats. This area is renowned for its heavy rainfall and the cultivation of Ghansal Paddy, a specific variety of paddy. Positioned along the banks of the Hiranyakeshi and Chitri Rivers and encircled by numerous hills, Ajara Taluka is often considered akin to a hill station by the locals. The data was collected through the personal interviews of the respondents. majority (57.85%) of the respondents had ‘medium’ level of perception, while remaining 20.71 per cent and 21.44 per cent of the respondents had ‘low’ and ‘high’ level of perception about GI of Ajara Ghansal respectively.