FARMERS’ AWARENESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION DUE TO EXCESS USE OF PESTICIDES IN WINTER VEGETABLE CULTIVATION

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to describe the selected characteristics of the farmers, to assess the extent of farmers’ awareness on environmental pollution due to excess use of pesticides in winter vegetable cultivation and to find out the factors that affecting farmers’ awareness on environmental pollution due to excess use of pesticides in winter vegetable cultivation. The study was conducted with randomly selected 105 farmers from four villages of Gazipur sadar upazila under Gazipur districts. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents during January 20

to February 20 , 2020. Farmers’ awareness on environmental pollution due to excess use of pesticides in winter vegetable cultivation was the dependent variable and this variable was measured by applying a 4-point rating scale. The highest proportion (56.19 percent) of the farmers had medium awareness on environmental pollution compared to having (26.67) percent high and (17.14) percent low awareness on environmental pollution. Five characteristics of the respondent’s viz. education, cosmopoliteness, extension media contact and agricultural organization participation had significant positive contribution with their awareness on environmental pollution due to excess use of pesticides in winter vegetable cultivation. Farm size had negative significant contribution with their awareness on environmental pollution due to excess use of pesticides in winter vegetable cultivation.