FARMERS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS HARMFUL EFFECTS OF AGRO-CHEMICALS ON ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of perception of the farmer’s towards harmful effects of agro-chemicals on environment and to describe the selected characteristics of the farmers and to explore the relationship between each of the selected characteristics of the farmers with their perception towards harmful effect of agro-chemicals on environment. The study was conducted with randomly selected 108 farmers from four villages of Thakurgaon sadar upazila under Thakurgaon district. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents during March 15 to April 14, 2021. Farmers’ perception towards harmful effects of agro-chemicals on environment was the main focus variable and this variable was measured by applying a 4-point Likert scale. The highest proportion 76.85 percent of the farmers had medium perception towards harmful effects of agro-chemicals on environment compared to having 16.67 percent high and 6.48 percent low perception towards harmful effects of agro-chemicals on environment. Five characteristics of the farmers’ viz. education, farming experience, training exposure and knowledge on good agricultural practices had positive significant relationship with their perception towards harmful effects of agro-chemicals on environment but problem faced in good agricultural practice had negative significant relationship with their perception towards harmful effects of agro-chemicals on environment.