ATTITUDE OF FARMERS TOWARDS ORGANIC CULTIVATION OF HYV OF RICE

Abstract

The main objectives of this study were to determine the attitude of farmers towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice and to explore the relationship of the selected characteristics of farmers with their attitude towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice. Besides, attempts were made to ascertain the problems faced by the farmers in practicing organic cultivation of HYVs of rice. The study was conducted with randomly selected 100 farmers of two villages namely North Jashpur at Mohamaya union and South Jashpur at Chhagalnaiya union of C'hhagalnaiya upazila tinder Feni district. Attitude of the farmers towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice was the dependent variable and measured by Likert type scale. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was computed to explore the relationship of the characteristics of the respondents with their attitude towards organic cultivation of l-TYVs of rice. A prc-tcstcd interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents during 19 October to 15 November 2007. Findings indicate that the highest proportion (62 percent) of the farmers had neutral attitude towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice while 23 percent of them had unfavorable and 15 percent had favorable attitude towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice. Their average attitude score was 48.87 where the maximum possible score could be 60. Thus, they had more or less favorable attitude towards organic cultivation of l-IYVs of rice. Among the characteristics, education, farm size, cosmopoliteness, extension media contact and training experience on organic cultivation practices had significant positive relationship with the attitude towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice. Whereas age, ttmily size and attitude towards use of agro-chcmicals had significant and negative relationship with the attitude towards organic cultivation of HYVs of rice while rest of the characteristics, namely annual income and organizational participation did not show any significant relationship with the same. The major problems in practicing organic cultivation of HYVs of rice identi lied by the farmers were higher amount of insect pest and diseases, initial low yield, lack of livestock resources for organic manure, lack of training and knowledge, and low communication with extension workers.