Perception Practice and Existing Knowledge Level of Farmers towards Agrochemical Use in Sitakunda Upazilla of Bangladesh
Suravi Rahman Ratna
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
Kishwar Jahan Chowdhury *
Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh.
Sanjoy Das
Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong-4000, Bangladesh.
Md. Emdadul Hoque
Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong-4000, Bangladesh.
M. M. Abdullah Al Mamun
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to know the knowledge level and perception of the farmers regarding the use and impact of agrochemical and to find out the correlation of knowledge level and pesticide use with their age, education, farm size, number of pesticide use.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh in four different unions of Sitakunda Upazilla between May 2018 and June 2018.
Methodology: We surveyed 142 farmer households from nine villages of three unions, selected through multistage purposive random sampling. They were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire. A key informant survey was done by interviewing Upazila agriculture officers and agrochemical retailers.
Results: No overuse of fertilizer and pesticide were found. Findings showed that 66.2% of farmers were medium knowledgeable, with 14.79% low and 19.01% high knowledgeable. Applications of obsolete pesticides were found to be used. Farmers’ knowledge level is significantly correlated with the education level and the number of pesticide uses.
Conclusion: There was a gap between amounts of fertilizer applied than the recommended level except for gypsum. Most of them did not know the standard application rate of fertilizer and pesticide. Farmers’ knowledge level should be improved and the adoption of rational use of agrochemicals is needed through extension activity to get proper yield and to inform them of precautionary measures.
Keywords: Agrochemical, perception, knowledge level, environmental impact, organic fertilizer, crop production, awareness program, soil test.