FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE ON VALUE CHAIN OF WATERMELON MARKETING

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine farmers’ knowledge on value chain of watermelon marketing, describe farmers selected characteristics and explore contributing relationship between farmers selected characteristics and knowledge on value chain of water melon marketing. The study was conducted in 2 villages of Subarnachar upazilla under Noakhali district. The population of the watermelon cultivars of these two villages were 365 from which 109 samples were selected by random sampling method. Data collection was done by preparing an interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, range and percentage were used to describe the variables. Regression analysis was done to measure the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable. The majority (94.5%) of the watermelon farmers possessed low to medium knowledge about value chain of water melon marketing followed by high knowledge (8.3%) farmers. The inferential analysis showed that income from watermelon, extension contact and experience in watermelon cultivation were the variables had significant relation with farmers knowledge on value chain of watermelon marketing. Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) should take steps to increase farmers knowledge on water melon value chain marketing and improve their farm income.