USE OF MODERN IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES BY THE FARMERS

Abstract

The purposes of the study were to describe the selected characteristics of the farmers; to determine the extent of farmers’ use of modern irrigation technique and to explore the contribution among each of the selected characteristics of farmers with their use of modern irrigation techniques. The study was undertaken purposively in Kishoreganj Upazila under Nilphamari District. Validated and well-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from 101 respondents during 1st July, 2021 and completed in 30 July, 2021. Descriptive statistics, multiple regressions were used for analysis. The majority (65.34 percent) of the farmers had medium use of modern irrigation techniques compared to having 26.23 percent high and 7.92 percent had low use of modern irrigation techniques. Among 11 selected characteristics of the farmers three characteristics namely- education, training received and knowledge on agricultural irrigation of the respondents had significant positive contribution with their use of modern irrigation techniques but problem faced by the farmers in using modern irrigation techniques of the respondents had significant negative contribution with their use of modern irrigation techniques. The rest 7 characteristics namely, age, family size, farm size, annual family income, farming experience, agricultural extension media contact and attitude towards using modern irrigation techniques had no significant contribution with their use of modern irrigation techniques. Almost half of the farmers (48.51%) were illiterate to primary level education. Finding leads to conclude that, if suitable steps are taken to improve education level of the farmers, an appreciable proportion of the farmers will be encouraged to use of modern irrigation techniques. Increase in training facilities to develop modern irrigation techniques will minimize farmer’s problems. If the farmers gain more knowledge on modern irrigation, they will face less problems in use of modern irrigation techniques.