Socio-economic status and communicational characteristics of farmers using bio-control agents

Abstract

Bio-control agents are an important component of integrated pest management and help to counteract insecticide resistant pests, withdrawal of chemicals and minimize the usage of pesticides. Although the adoption of Bio-control agents is strongly affected by the socio-economic environment in which they are to be applied and by farmers’ attitudes, these factors have been poorly investigated in bio-control agent’s research and development programs. The main purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic status and communicational characteristics of farmers using bio-control agents in Chhattisgarh plains zone. Face to face interviews of 200 respondents was conducted to collect the data for the study. Purposively sampling method was used to collect data from farmers of study area. The results showed that 43.00 per cent of the respondents were marginal farmers (Below 1.0 ha) and majority (36.40%) has agriculture only as their sole occupations however only about one-third (32.50%) of the respondents were at the income range up to ₹ 50,000. In mass media exposure and extension contact farmers using bio-control agents were found under medium level categories.