Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and management of major diseases of potato at Kavrepalanchok, Nepal

Abstract

Mandandeupur, Panchkhal, Banepa and Panauti municipalities were chosen from Kavrepalanchok district based on higher yield potential, and 25 households were chosen at random from each municipality, yielding a sample size of 100. The primary and secondary data collection methods were used. The results revealed that, of the five major problems of farmers in the study area, disease is the most serious, with an index value of 0.818. Knowledge level was classified as 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 representing no knowledge, knowledge about one disease, knowledge about two diseases, knowledge about three diseases, and knowledge about four or more diseases. The majority of farmers (42%) in the study area were found to be familiar with three diseases. The majority of farmers (85%) considered Late blight to be the most serious disease. The majority of farmers (42%) believe the severity of diseases is minor (< 40% of plant population affected). The majority of farmers (46%) believed disease had affected a moderate area of their field (40-60% of the area). The majority of farmers (99%) thought that chemical methods were the best for disease management and control. The majority of farmers (55%) were found to be using more than the recommended dose of chemical pesticide for disease management. The majority of farmers (48%) believe the extent of disease spread is decreasing.