Author(s):

S Lokesh Babu, DD Suradkar and SV Dhage

Abstract: The indiscriminate use of pesticides on crops adversely affects both environment and health of people. Many researches were conducted to evolve technical alternatives for ecofriendly agriculture, but very less emphasis was given to the behavioural component of the farmers. Considering the need, present study was conducted to assess the farmers awareness level and socio-economic factors influencing the awareness about .effects of the pesticides on the human health. The study was conducted in Nanded district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra state among cotton growing farmers. Ten variables were selected as independent variables and the awareness of farmers as the dependent variable. Selected respondents were personally interviewed with the help of a structured interview schedule by the researchers. The data was analysed using Statistical tools. Out of 10 variables Education, Farming experience, Social participation, Economic motivation, Innovativeness, Mass media exposure, Risk orientation and Scientific orientation were found to be positively significant at 0.01 level of probability with their awareness level. Age was found to be negatively and significantly related with awareness. Farm size had non significant relationship with awareness levels of farmers. It is recommended that there is a great need to initiate the awareness generating programmes by the government. Increased social participation, extension contacts-and mass media exposure could be given due importance by extension agencies to enhance the eco-friendly agriculture in years to come, which is really the need of the new millennium.

Pages: 1071-1073  |  1844 Views  388 Downloads

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