Farmers' knowledge level and constraints faced in the adoption of weed management technologies

Abstract

One common problem for the organizations and individuals involved in the transfer of the agricultural technologies is how to accelerate the adoption rate of technologies; which is mainly influenced by many factors such as simplicity of the technology, relative advantages, etc. Further, after the adoption of technology, the question arises that for how many years the farmers practiced the technology. In the present work, knowledge and awareness level of farmers on weed management technologies and constraints faced in the adoption of these technologies were studied. Primary data were collected from the farmers of different parts of India selected by random sampling using detailed pretested interview schedule and comprising a total of 412 farmers in the sample. Awareness level of farmers on weed management including chemical method were checked using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics. Parameters explaining the awareness level of the farmers on weed management, in general and chemical weed management, in particular, were subjected to factor analysis. Varimax rotation technique was used as solution pertaining to different factors. Two factors were selected for further interpretation which explained 72.6 and 84.3% variability in the level of awareness among farmers on weed management and chemical method of weed control, respectively. Study showed that the risk associated with the use of herbicides was the major constraint for non-adoption of this technology. Further, other major constraints were lack of technical knowledge about herbicides; lack of awareness about improved weed management technologies and lack of knowledge about the precautions during spray of herbicides.