Knowledge and attitude of farmer towards improved farm implements

Abstract

The present study on “knowledge and attitude of farmer towards improved farm implements” was conducted in the year 2020-2021 inYavatmal district of Maharashtra state. The exploratory research design of social research was used. In all, 80 respondents were selected by random sampling method. The data were collected by personally interviewing the respondents with the help of structured interview schedule. The data collected were carefully examined, classified, quantified and tabulated. Frequencies, mean, standard deviation and correlation co-efficient were employed for interpreting the results. The findings of the present study revealed that, more than half of the respondents 58.75 per cent belonged to middle age group, i.e. between 35 to 50 years. High proportion of the respondents 28.75 per cent were educated upto middleschool category (5th to 7thstandard). More than half 56.25 per cent of the respondents had medium family size category (3-6 members). Most of the respondents 45.00 per cent had medium land holding (4.01 to 10 ha). Nearly half of respondents i.e.41.25 per cent used river as source of irrigation. Majority of respondents 76.25 per cent had medium cropping pattern. 22.5 per cent of respondents had very high annual income i.e. above 100000 Rs. In case of source of information, it was observed that among the personal localite sources, majority of the farmers always get information from neibhour (93.75%) and 53.75 per cent of respondents sometime get information from researcher of agriculture university. (51.25 %) of farmers never get information from Gramsevak. In case of group contact methods 61.25 per cent of the respondents always get information from discussion as well as conference, 63.75 per cent farmers get information sometime from Agriculture day. (27.5%) of the farmers never participated in discussion. Among the mass sources majority (88.75%) of the farmers always get information from agriculture bulletin, followed by farmers rally (73.75%) and television (66.25%). It was observed that 52.5 per cent of farmers had medium exposure to sources of information. Regarding risk preference it was observed that 50.00 per cent of the respondents had medium risk preference. In knowledge level, 55.00 per cent of respondents had medium level of knowledge. The most popular implements were pick-axe, spade, sickle, M.B. Plough and gunny bags are known to all the respondents. About 46.25 per cent respondents were unaware about decintegrater. In case of attitude of the respondents towards the farm practices half of the farmers showed the favourable attitude towards farm practices i.e. 50.00 per cent. Important requirement requirements of respondents, that 91.25 per cent of farmers quoted provision of continues electric supply in day time at minimum rate for farm work, maximum farmers 87.5 per cent gave suggestion that government should make availability of fuel required farm machinery at subsidize rate. 86.25 per cent of respondents responded yes to facillating the group of farmers to own the high cost machinery by providing financial support and provision of good road connectivity for transportation is 85.00 per cent. Majority of farmers 83.75 per cent suggest provision of credit facility to purchase implements, equipment and machinery.