PROBLEMS FACED BY THE FARMERS IN USING AGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine the extent of problems faced by the farmers in using agricultural machineries. The study was carried out in Uthrail union of Sadar upazila and 6 no. Nijpara union of Birganj upazila under Dinajpur district. One hundred and eighteen (118) farmers were selected as sample from an updated list of 1183 farmers. Data were collected by a pre-tested interview schedule during 15 April 2022 to 15 May 2022. Simple and direct questions with different scales were used to obtain information. Problems were measured by constructing 5-point rating scale. Coefficient of correlation (r) was computed to explore the relationships between the eleven

selected

characteristics of the farmers and their problems faced in using agricultural machineries. The highest problems faced by the farmers was ‘Fragmented land’ (PFI=401). The second important problems faced by the farmers was observed ‘High price of machineries’ (PFI=383). The 3 x

rd important problems faced by the farmers was observed ‘High price of fuel’ (PFI=359). Majority (70.3 percent) of the farmers had medium problems faced, 16.1 percent had low problems faced and 13.6 percent had high problems faced in using agricultural machineries. Among eleven selected characteristics education, farm size, annual income, knowledge on agricultural machineries and use of agricultural machineries of the farmers had negative significant relationships with their problems faced in using agricultural machineries. However, age, family size, farming experience, training received, agricultural extension media contact and attitude of farmers towards using agricultural machineries had no significant relationships with their problems faced in using agricultural machineries. Findings leads to conclude that socio-economic characteristics have influence on problems faced by the farmers in using agricultural machineries and concerned authority should take necessary action to reduce problems of the farmers associated with agricultural machineries focusing on those significant influencing characteristics.