KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF THE FARMERS REGARDING POTATO CULTIVATION IN SELECTED AREA OF DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The specific purpose of this research was to determine farmer’s knowledge and attitude towards potato cultivation and also to explore the relationships between each of nine selected characteristics of the farmers and their knowledge and attitude towards potato cultivation. The study was conducted in two upazilla under Dinajpur district. The populations of potato farmers in two upazilla were 665, from which a sample of 100 (15% of population) farmers were drawn by using random sampling technique. An interview schedule was used for data collection. The data were collected during 11 January to 11 February 2022. Majority (89%) of the farmers possessed high knowledge and 11% of the farmers possessed medium knowledge on potato cultivation. While the number of low knowledge farmers was zero. Regarding attitude, it was found that about 54% of the respondents had favorable attitude towards potato cultivation, compared to 40% and 6% of the respondents had unfavorable and neutral attitude towards potato cultivation, respectively. Out of nine selected characteristics of the farmers- education, income from potato, organizational participation, extension media contact and problem faced of the farmers had significant positive relationship with their knowledge on potato cultivation. Rest four characteristics i.e; age, farm size, annual income and cosmopoliteness had no significant relationship with their knowledge on potato cultivation. Again education, income from potato, organization participation and extension media contact of the farmers had significant positive relationship with their attitude towards potato cultivation. Rest five characteristics i.e; age, farm size, annual income, cosmopoliteness and problem faced in potato cultivation had no significant relationship with their attitude on potato cultivation.