Farmers’ knowledge of integrated pest management and learning style preferences: Implications for information delivery

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate farmers’ knowledge of integrated pest management (IPM) and learning style preferences. The study population comprised farmers in Hossein-Abad town, in the city of Karaj, Iran. A sample of 200 farmers was divided into two groups of 100 individuals according to gender. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics of respondents, knowledge of IPM, and learning style preferences. Farmers’ knowledge of IPM was assessed by the average of four attributes including negative aspects of pesticide use, awareness of alternatives for controlling pests, knowledge of beneficial insects, and IPM definition. IPM knowledge mean scores of male and female farmers were 5.84 and 5.43, respectively. Males were more familiar with alternatives for controlling pests than their female counterparts. Females were more familiar with the negative aspects of pesticide use. Sixty-four percent of males had unimodal preferences compared to 49% of females. In contrast, 36% males versus 51% females had multimodal preferences. Based on the recorded different learning style preferences of farmers, we recommend that no single method be used for IPM delivery, and that a combination of methods including radio and TV programmes should be used.