FARMERS’ USE OF IMPROVED RICE CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGIES IN ULIPUR UPAZILA UNDER KURIGRAM DISTRICT

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the rice cultivator; to determine the extent of use of improved rice cultivation technologies by farmers in the area and to explore the relationship between selected characteristics of farmers with their use of improved rice cultivation technologies. The study was undertaken purposively in Ulipur upazila under Kurigram district. Validated and well-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from 104 rice cultivator during January 10 to February 28, 2021. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Co-efficient were used for analysis. Most (75%) of the farmers were under low to medium use categories of improved rice cultivation technologies. One-fifth (25%) of the farmers were under high used category of technologies. Among nine selected characteristics of the farmers six characteristics namely- education, annual income from rice cultivation, rice farming experience, extension contact and knowledge on improved rice cultivation technologies had positive significant relationship with their use of improved rice cultivation technologies but constraints faced in rice cultivation had negative significant relationship with their use of improved rice cultivation technologies. The study recommends that extension services should be strengthened with necessary inputs for use of improve rice cultivation technologies by respondents.