MSc.

The present study entitled “technology utilization of organic plant
protection practices of KAU” was undertaken with the objectives of studying the
adoption of standardized practices, factors affecting the rate of adoption and
constraints in the process of adoption, if any with suggestions for refinement of
organic plant protection practices.
From Thiruvananthapuram district three panchayts namely, Nedumangad,
Kunnathukal and Chenkal panchayats were selected from three blocks having
more number of farmers practicing commercial vegetable cultivation along with
organic practices for plant protection. Ninety such farmers were selected through
simple random sampling procedure from the list of farmers provided by the
respective agricultural officers. Two dependent variables and fourteen
independent variables were studied and analyzed with the help of different scales
and techniques.
On analysis of data it was found that most of the respondents (53.33%)
belonged to old age group and majority of respondents (63.33%) were having
high school level of education and 5.56% of farmers were identified as illiterate.
Majority of farmers (84.44%) had agriculture as their primary occupation. More
than half of the respondents (73.33%) were having experience in farming for more
than 5 years. More than 50% of farmers (87.78%) had 1-2 acres of farm land.
Most of farmers (51.11%) followed scientific practices only. Majority of farmers
belonged to medium category with respect to information source utilization
(54.44%), extension orientation (55.56%), economic motivation (88.89%),
environmental concern (62.22%), market perception (67.78%), risk orientation
(74.44%), and attitude (67.78%). The results also points to the fact that the most
widely used information source was television (43.33%) followed by magazines
(37.78%) and newspapers (33.33%) respectively. When 63.34% of respondents
felt that television was the information source that was more useful, and 81.11%
of respondents felt that information kiosk was the source that was not that useful
for the farmers. Distribution of respondents based on extension contact showed
that the majority of respondents (50%) visited Krishi bhavan for getting
information and support. In case of distribution of respondents based on extension
participation 36.67% reported that they participated in seminars as and when
conducted.
Majority farmers (77.78% and 64.44%) were having medium level of
awareness and knowledge about organic plant protection practices. Seven out of
12 variables were significantly correlating with extent of knowledge on organic
plant protection aspects at 1% significance. They were farm size, farming
experience, extension orientation, information source utilization, market
perception, awareness on organic plant protection practices and attitude towards
organic plant protection practices.
In case of plant protection preferences family safe food concept ranked
one followed by cost effective plant protection practices, and sustainability.
Majority (97.78% each) of farmer respondents reported that use of botanicals and
cultivating crop mixtures were the two practices that were effective for them. In
case of extent of perceived usefulness of the technology 97.78% opined that
cultivating crop mixtures followed by use of botanicals (69.8%) was useful.
More than half of farmers belonged to medium (83.33%) level of adoption
and majority (44.44%) of farmers belonged to early majority group in Rogers
standard adopter category curve. The results of ANOVA revealed that there was
no significant difference among the three panchayats of study in terms of
adoption level. Extent of adoption was positively and significantly correlated
with seven out of 12 independent variables at 1% significance, namely, farm size,
farming experience, extension orientation, information source utilization, market
perception, awareness and attitude.
Technology need assessment as perceived by organic farmers revealed that
maximum need was observed for soil solarization technologies. One kg of fresh
cow dung was mixed with10 litres of water with crushed neem leaves and kept for
6 hours. The clear solution then is filtered and the supernatant liquid was sprayed
at regular intervals to manage the leaf spot of amaranthus.
Lack of knowledge on organic plant protection products and its
preparation cum use was perceived to be the most important reason for non
adoption of organic plant protection practices followed by lack of support from
extension agents and many organic plant protection practices were not effective
especially in commercial growing tracts. The major constraint experienced by
farmers was the ongoing drought situation during the time of data collection
followed by, Lack of extension service to facilitate transfer of technology
scientifically on organic plant protection, same price or even more than that of
chemical produce, time consuming while resorting to organic plant protection
preparation, storage and its application and organic practices that were labour
intensive coupled by non availability cum high cost of labour.
The top five suggestions for refinement for tackling the constraints as
perceived by farmers and refined through focus group discussions were
facilitating regular and frequent farm visit, diagnostic and consultancy by
krishibhavan officials on organic plant protection (90.44%) followed by making
available low cost organic inputs and feasible technologies (88.33%), inclusion of
more number of classes, demonstrations and seminars about organic pp practices
(75.22%), Timely access to organic plant protection inputs (70.22%), construction
of low cost mini dams or water storage facilities like technologies developed and
popularised by RARS, Ambalavayal (65.22%).