Factors affecting knowledge of sugarcane growers about integrated disease management practices

Abstract

Sugarcane is the most important cash crop grown worldwide and plays a key role in economic and social development of the farmers. Now a days sugarcane cultivation and sugar industry stands as supporting pillar of Indian economy. The present study was conducted on 180 sugarcane growers selected from 12 villages in Karnal district of Haryana state during the period of 2018. Majority of the farmers were found to have medium level of knowledge about the elementary aspect and cultural practices of disease. In case of chemical control of disease, majority of the farmers had low level of knowledge. However, farmers had medium to low level of overall knowledge on integrated disease management.The study further revealed that sugarcane growers having higher education status, large land holding, more social participation, higher socio-economic status, more number of information sources, high risk capacity, economic motivation, more change proneness and better management orientation had high level of knowledge on IDM practices in sugarcane crop.Thus, it can be concluded from the foregoing discussion that information sources, risk orientation and management orientation had significantly contributed towards knowledge of integrated disease management.