PERCEPTION OF MANGO GROWERS TOWARDS OPTIMAL USE OF AGROCHEMICALS

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the perception of mango growers towards Optimal use of agrochemicals. The study was conducted in Baliadangi upazila under Thakurgaon District. 108 respondents were selected as sample from a recent list of 270 mango growers using multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected by a pre-tested interview schedule during 1st October to 30th October 2018. Perception of mango growers towards Optimal use of agrochemicals was the focus issue of the study and was measured by using 10 statements (5 positive and 5 negative) along with a Likert scale. The perception score of a respondent was computed by adding the scores for responses to all of the 10 statements. The possible perception scores could range from 10 to 50, where 10 indicating highly unfavorable perception and 50 indicate highly favorable perception towards Optimal agrochemicals use. Problems of the respondents were measured by asking 10 questions on different aspects related to mango production. Four point rating scale was used to measure the problem of a respondent. The overall problem facing score of the respondents could be ranged from 0 to 30, where 0 indicating no problem faced and 30 indicating very high problem faced in mango cultivation. To ascertain the comparison among the problems, Problems Facing Index (PFI) was computed. Mango growers suggestions to solve the problems of mango production was collected and ranked as per of their citations. Majority (73.2 percent) of the respondents had favorable perception followed by 14.8 percent had neutral and only 12 percent had unfavorable perception towards Optimal use of agrochemicals. Among the selected characteristics, education, knowledge on use of agrochemicals and extension media contact showed positive significant relationships and farm size showed negative significant relationship with their perception towards Optimal use of agrochemicals. The first to major problems faced by the mango growers is ‘lack of knowledge on appropriate cultivation practices’ (PFI=278.8) followed by ‘high cost of pesticides’ (PFI=275.9) and last to major problems were ‘insufficient water management’ (PFI= 97.3), followed by ‘lack of marketing facilities’ (PFI= 96.5). Majority of the farmers suggested to arrange training program for development of their skill in mango cultivation followed by government loan on easy terms for mango growers and to ensure visit of the agricultural extension personnel to the mango farms.