A STUDY ON THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF COFFEE FARMERS IN KERALA

Abstract

The study examined the financial well-being of coffee farmers in selected areas of Wayanad and Idukki districts of Kerala and analysed the factors, challenges, and sustainable practices associated with it. A quantitative, descriptive, and analytical cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 150 coffee farmers, comprising 75 respondents from each district. The instrument measured financial well-being, economic, financial, production-related, and institutional factors, challenges, and sustainable farming and financial management practices. The data were analysed using EDUSTAT. Mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were employed. The results showed that 67.33 per cent of the farmers had a moderate level of financial well-being. The influencing-factor score had a significant positive relationship with financial well-being, whereas challenges had a significant negative relationship. Sustainable farming and financial management practices were also positively associated with financial well-being. The combined regression model explained 53.6 per cent of the variance in financial well-being, and challenges emerged as the strongest predictor. The study concluded that improved institutional credit, risk protection, market access, income diversification, climate resilience, and financial management may strengthen the financial well-being of coffee farmers.