International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
KS Amritha and GS Sreedaya

abstract
Despite Kerala's vegetable production potential, local output falls far short of annual demand), presenting significant challenges and risk for farmers. This study examined and compared risk perception among young commercial and urban vegetable farmers in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts to understand how different farmer categories experience agricultural risks The study employed a purposive sampling design, selecting 140 respondents comprising 70 commercial vegetable farmers (25-45 years, minimum 1.5 acres) and 70 urban vegetable farmers (25-45 years, minimum 30 growbags/containers) equally distributed across both districts. Risk perception was measured using a structured five-point rating scale across 42 specific risk sources grouped into five major categories: Production Risk, Market Risk, Financial Risk, Institutional Risk, and Personal Risk. Risk perception indices were calculated and compared using independent samples t-tests. Results revealed that Commercial vegetable farmers in both districts perceived substantially higher market risk (Alappuzha: 55.66; Thiruvananthapuram: 55.35) compared to urban vegetable farmers (38.82 and 37.98 respectively), reflecting their direct market dependence. Similarly, commercial vegetable farmers reported significantly higher financial risk due to greater financial investments. However, production risk showed no significant differences between groups, indicating universal vulnerability to climate variability, pests, and input quality issues regardless of farming scale. Institutional risk exhibited district-specific patterns, with Alappuzha's urban vegetable farmers reporting higher institutional risk due to inadequate extension support. The findings highlights the need for differentiated risk management strategies tailored to farmer type and regional context. These insights are important for developing targeted policy interventions that address specific challenges faced by diverse farming communities.