Abstract
The purpose of the study was to determine the adoption of IPM practices among the farmers and the factors influencing the adoption of IPM practices. Farm family heads of Farmers Field Schools (FFSS) of three selected upazilas of three districts of Mymensingh region constituted the population of the study. Double stage sampling method was used for the study for the sampling purpose. A total of 232 farm family heads were finally selected which constituted the sample of the study. Two types of data collecting instruments, interview schedule I and II were used for collecting data from farm family heads and concerned extension personnel respectively. The data were collected during 6 November 1999 to 30 April 2000. The selected characteristics of the farmers were considered as the independent variables; in all there were 23 such variables. Adoption of IPM practices in rice cultivation by the farmers was the dependent variable of the study. The findings revealed that almost one sixth of the farmers (16.81 percent) had high adoption, slightly higher than one sixth (18.53 percent) had low adoption and nearly two-thirds (64.66 percent) had medium adoption. Among the five IPM components, use of resistant varieties (63.52 percent), rational use of chemicals (63.36 percent), use of cultural practices (59.5 percent), use of mechanical measures (25.03 percent) and use of biological agents (6.10 percent) ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively in respect of controlling rice pests. Chi- square, regression and path analyses were used to explore the relationships among the variables. The findings of the Chi-square test showed that family labour force (Xg) and formal group affiliation (X13) of the farmers did not show significant relationships with their composite adoption of IPM practices; all other variables except age of the farmers had significant positive relationships with their composite adoption of IPM practices, while age (X1) had significant. negative relationship. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicates that among other variables aspiration (X22) alone contributed more than two-thirds (67.70 percent) of the total variation in the composite adoption of the IPM practices; communication exposure (X15) and attitude towards IPM practices (X23) had also considerable contribution to the composite adoption of IPM practices. Results of path analysis revealed that aspiration (X22), communication exposure (X15) and attitude towards IPM practices (X23) had strong direct and indirect effect on their composite adoption of IPM practices. The findings also demonstrated that the acreage of boro rice as well as net return from boro rice cultivation have considerably increased as a result of the adoption of IPM practices; on the other hand cost of pesticides (Tk/ha) greatly decreased. The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that the adoption of IPM practices in the study area have played an important role not only in increasing production of boro rice but also in making environment healthy and friendly. Therefore, the extension specialists, researchers and administrators should take desk and experimental research programme to identify the factors causing hindrance to the adoption of IPM practices and provide guidelines for greater adoption and diffusion of this method.