Socioeconomic status of emu farmers in Tamilnadu

This study was conducted with the objective of surveying the existing emu farming system on socio-economic status of emu farmers in Tamilnadu. A total number of twelve emu farmers were randomly selected in Karur, Dindugul, Namakkal, Villupuram and Kancheepuram districts of Tamil Nadu and data were collected by personal interview using a specially designed interview schedule. The basic data were collected for the socio-economic status of the emu farmers. The details of total number of birds and its age were collected. The results on flock size indicated that the flock size of chicks revealed that 41.67% of farmers each had either emu population ranging from 1 to 500 chicks. 8.33% of emu farmers had emu population ranging from 1000 to 5000 chicks while another 8.33% of the farmers had population more than 10, 000 chicks. The results on the grower emu birds revealed that 8.33% of the farmers had population ranging from 5000 to 10, 000 growers whereas 8.33% farmers had population ranging from 10 to 500 growers, 8.33% had less than 10 growers and remaining 75% farmers did not have any grower stage emu birds. The data on layer emu birds revealed that 16.67% of the farmers had population ranging from 0 to 10 layers, 50% of the farmers had 10–100 layers, 8.33% farmers each had 100–500, 500–1000 and more than 1000 layer emu birds. 8.33% farmers did not have any layer stage emu birds. The results on socio-economic status of the farmers revealed land holding was up to 1 to 5 acre and less than one acre category in 66.66% and emu farming was practiced as allied activity in 41.67%. Based on the results of the study, it may be concluded that the most of the emu farmers had their own emu farming, practiced emu farming activity as allied activity to agriculture, had secondary education and had one to four years of experience in emu farming activity.