ADOPTION DETERMINANTS OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER USE ON BORO RICE PRODUCTION IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF PABNA DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Now a days organic farming is an important and most demandable method in agriculture. Rice plays a pivotal role in all sphere of life and when it comes to food security of the rural farmers. It is the most important commodity in terms of livelihood and food. It is not only staple food but also center of the entire Bengali life. Among various types of rice, Boro rice is grown all over the Bangladesh for export as well as domestic market. The present study was designed to analyze the socio-economic profile of the respondent, find out the determinants of organic fertilizer use on Boro rice production and identify the problems of organic fertilizer use on Boro rice production. Three villages were selected under Sujanagar Upazila and others two villages from Bera Upazila. Farmers are mainly using cowdung and compost as the organic fertilizer in the Boro rice production. Primary data were collected through purposively random sampling from 120 farmers. About 60 farmers use organic fertilizer in Boro rice production, whereas others 60 farmers who did not use organic fertilizer. Descriptive Statistics, Binary Logistic Regression model used in the study. Majority of the farmers who used organic fertilizer was medium aged farmers with medium family size, and they had completed their secondary level of schooling with medium income. In the contrary, who did not use organic fertilizer, had medium family size with medium income, and they had no formal education. Most of the organic fertilizer user did not use of credit facility, whereas inorganic fertilizer user use credit facility, although organic fertilizer user more engaged on various organizational membership than inorganic fertilizer user. Organic fertilizer user having livestock, but most of the inorganic fertilizer user have no livestock. The Logistic Regression Model reveals that education, training, extension service, information access, livestock, market distance, bicycle/van ownership were significant and positive, on the other hand age, family size, credit facility were significant and negative. Among various problems of using organic fertilizer on Boro rice production, lack of credit facility ranked first, high price of inputs ranked second, and lack of training ranked third position in the study area. This scenery will be changed with adequate use of credit facility, provision of organic fertilizer to the farmers. Government should give more emphasis on training and raising awareness on organic fertilizer use on Boro rice production.