IMPACT OF DAIRY FARMING ON EDUCATIONAL STATUS IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT: A CASE STUDY

Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. According to the census of India,
69% of population is still engaged in agriculture sector. About 70% of Indian export
depends upon agriculture products; includes dairy products. Kolhapur district is
known for its Krishna valley stock for more than hundred years and has a long
tradition for dairy farming and it impacts on overall development of the district. The
present paper intends to focus on the impact dairy farming on educational status in
the district. The literacy level measured at Tehsils and at case study village level
which was surveyed in Feb. 2011. In 2001 census, the average literacy of the district
was 72.59 per cent and in 2011 it was 77.82 per cent, the absolute increase was 5.23
per cent. The average female literacy rate was 60.47% & male was 84.72% and gap
was 24.25 % in 2001. As per 2011 census it was 69.22 % female average literacy
rate and while males were 86.31 % and the gap was 17.09 % means slightly
decreased by 7.16 %. At the case study villages level the total average was 73.47 %
and male average was 82.93% and 63.51 % of female average. The total gap
average was 19.44 %, as per the field in feb.2011. The study also focuses on the
educational attainment of the children’s in the case study villages.