KNOWLEDGE OF THE FARMERS TOWARDS PRAWN CULTURE IN SPECIFIC AREA OF KHULNA DISTRICT

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Dumuria Upazilla under Khulna district. Three villages namely Alonia. Kazirpur and Atilpara from number 8 Dehergoti union have been selected purposively for the study. Total 105 farmers constituted the sample of the study. The independent variables were: age, education, family size, duration of involvement with prawn culture, farm size, annual income, training experience, extension media contact, cosmopoliteness, credit received, altitude of the farmers towards prawn culture and problems faced by the farmers. Data collection was started on 1 May, 2008 and completed on 30 May, 2008. Among the respondents Farmers the middle aged farmers constitute the highest proportion (60.96 percent) and the lowest proportion were made by the old aged category (9.52 percent). Farmers under 'secondary education category constitutes the highest proportion (41.90 percent) and the lowest 11.43 percent were illiterate. The small family category constitute the highest proportion (44.76 percent) followed by medium size family category (40.95 percent) and large family category (14.29 percent). About 29.52% respondents were engaged with prawn culture below 10 years and 49.52% respondents were involved in 11-20 years and 22.95 percent above 21 years. Small farm holder constitutes the highest proportion 54.29 percent and the lowest 2.86 percent marginal farm holder and followed by II .43 percent large farmers. The farmers family having medium income constitute the highest proportion (50.48 percent) followed by the farmers family having low annual family income (40.95 percent) and high annual family income (8.57 percent). Among the total respondents about 34.29 percent of the farmers received low duration training, 32.38 percent received medium duration training and 33.33 percent in long duration training. About 56.19 percent of the respondents had low media contact while 36.19 percent had medium media contact and 7.62 percent had high media contact. The farmers have medium cosmopoliteness category constitute the highest proportion (50.48 percent) followed by low cosmopoliteness (40 percent) and high cosmopoliteness category (9.52 percent). Among the total respondents farmers about 61.90 percent farmers received credit upto Tk. 15 thousand, while 27.62 percent farmers received credit from medium (15-20 thousand) score credit receiver and 10.48