MSc

The study was aimed at popularising the Integrated Pest management
practices among the rice growers of Thrissur district and to formulate a strategy
to facilitate the idea using the best combination of extension method and audio
visual aids. The effectiveness of different treatments in terms of gaining
knowledge, attitude and symbolic adoption were arrived at. The study was
conducted among 120 rice growers of Pananchery Grama Panchayat of Thrissur
district. The respondents were divided into groups of 30 each
The dependent variables of the study were the knowledge about IPM in
rice, attitude towards IPM practices and symbolic adoption. The independent
variables included the personal, socioeconomic and psychological characteristics
of the farmers.
The distribution of respondents based on dependent variables showed
that majority of the respondents where in high category regarding knowledge
and in low category regarding attitude and symbolic adoption regarding IPM
rice.
Out of 18 independent variable studied 11 of them were significantly and
positively correlated with knowledge. Seven variables showed non significant
relation.
Multiple regression analysis showed 65% variation with the variables related to
knowledge.
Correlation analysis of attitude showed a significant and positive relation
with 14 variables out of 18 variables studied. The most important being scientific
orientation, progressiveness, extension participation, cosmopolitness, information

seeking behavior, management orientation, status of pest in field and
competitiveness. Multiple regression analysis results showed a significant R-
square value of 0.648 which explained 65% of the variation. The most important
variables status of pests, progressiveness
Correlation analysis of symbolic adoption revealed that out of 18 variables
studied 14 were positively correlated with symbolic adoption. The most important
variables being scientific orientation, achievement motivation, economic
motivation, extension participation, extension orientation, cosmopolitness and
information seeking behavior. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that
76% of the variation was explained by the selected independent variables. The
variables like economic motivation, management orientation, status of pest in
field and training in IPM were positively significant.
Student's t- test was carried out to compare the changing knowledge,
attitude and symbolic adoption of farmers after being exposed to different
treatments. Significant changes were noticed after each treatment. Maximum
changes were observed after T 3. ie lecture+ slide show + discussion.
The major constraint observed by the farmers was the lack of expert
guidance regarding IPM practices.