INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY THE RESOURCE-POOR FARMERS IN PRODUCING HYV BORO RICE

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to ascertain the extent of use of information sources by the resource-poor farmers in receiving information on I IYV Soro rice production and to identify the pattern of use of information sources according to farm categories. Attempt was also made to explore the relationship between the use of information sources by the resource-poor farmers and their selected characteristics. 'J he characteristics were age. education, farming experience, farm size. annual income, organizational participation. cosrnopoliteness and agricultural know ledge. Ihe study was carried out at two villages of Charekkaria union under Mehendiganj upazila or Barisal district. Data were collected personally through interview schedule from one hundred randomly selected resource-poor farmers from a total of 465. those who were related to IIYV Boro rice production. Data collection took 30 days from September 15 to October I 4. 2006. Pearson 5 product moment correlation co-efficient (r) was used to explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of resource-poor farmers and their use of information sources. The findings indicate that 82 percent of the respondents had medium use while 13 percent had high use and only 5 percent had low use of information sources in receiving information on HYV Boro rice production. Neighbors, experienced farmer, rclativ es. group discussion, radio, input dealer, SAAO came out as the first SC\Cn effective sources to having information in producing HYV Boro rice. Usually the resource-poor farmers preferred localities sources of information. As per classification of different information sources on their extent of use, the individual sources ranked first and were followed by group and mass sources.