An Empirical Analysis of Marketing Challenges, Constrains and Opportunites Among Tribal Millet Farmers in Attappady Region, Palakkad District

The present study titled aims to examine the Socio-Economic profile of tribal millet farmers, identify the major marketing constraints faced by them, and analyze the relationship between market access factors and income improvement. The study is based on a descriptive research design using both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from 85 tribal millet farmers in Attappady through a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using statistical tools such as frequency and percentage analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and correlation analysis with the help of SPSS software. The findings of the study reveal that most farmers belong to small and marginal categories with limited resources and depend on traditional marketing channels. Factor analysis identified three major dimensions of marketing constraints, namely Information Constraints, Infrastructure Constraints, and Market and Financial Constraints, with information-related issues emerging as the most significant factor. The correlation analysis indicates a positive and significant relationship between market access factors and farmer income improvement, highlighting the importance of effective market connectivity. The study concludes that strengthening market information systems, improving infrastructure facilities, and enhancing institutional support can significantly improve the marketing efficiency and income levels of tribal millet farmers in the study area.