A Study on the Knowledge Level and Extent of Adoption of Plant Protection Measures against Blast Disease of Rice by the Farmers of Indian Sundarbans

The study was conducted to know the knowledge and adoption level of plant protection measures against blast disease among 80 respondent paddy growers in the blocks of North and South 24 Parganas of Sundarbans. About 48.75% of the respondents had medium knowledge. Majority of the respondents (75%) knew about blast disease of rice and its key identifying symptom. The 67.5% farmers were having the knowledge about the fungicides used against the disease (Tricyclazole 75 WP, Carbendazim 50 WP, Hexaconazole 5EC), and 22.5% of the farmers knowing about the recommended dose of fungicide application. The 28.75% of the respondents also knew that the fungicide should be applied at the first appearance of the disease. Further, it has been found that the adoption level of plant protection measures against blast disease of rice was medium (47.5%). Nearly 53.75% of the respondents practicing rice cultivation were in the middle age group of 31-50 years. Most of the respondent had either 0.13-0.27ha (22.5%) or 0.40-0.67ha (37.5%) landholding wherein they were practicing rice cultivation. Almost all the respondents (100%) possessed Knapsack or hand sprayer for fungicide application. Climatic vagaries, lack of knowledge about to the number of sprays and concerning technology application, non-availability of fungicide on time, lack of facility at the nearby place were the major constraints as expressed by 95, 83.75, 85, 90, and 95 per cent of respondents, respectively. The high cost of chemicals and expensiveness and non-availability of labour during peak cropping period were also the major constraints as expressed by 60 and 83.75 per cent of the respondents, respectively. There was a significant relationship between age, education, landholding, social, mass media and participation in extension activities with knowledge and adoption levels of the farmers of the Indian Sundarbans.