Farmers’ Efficiency in Using Selected Pesticides for Controlling Rice Pests

Farmers’ efficiency in using pesticides depends on using recommended doses. The research was conducted to determine farmers’ efficiency in using selected pesticides for controlling rice pests and explore the contribution of selected characteristics of the farmers to their efficiency in using selected pesticides for controlling rice pests. Data were collected from randomly selected 252 Common Interest Group (CIG) Member rice farmers of three selected unions of three selected upazillas of Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh with the help of a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from 01 August 2022 to 30 November 2022. Findings revealed that 38.97% farmers were the efficient users of recommended doses and rest 61.03% farmers had lower to moderate efficiency in using pesticides for controlling rice pests. Based on descending order of Standardized Use Efficiency Index, ‘Gola 80 EC for killing rice bug’ ranked 1st followed by ‘Amistar Top 325 SC for controlling sheath blight disease’, and ‘Thiovit 80 WG for controlling leaf scald disease’. Regression analysis indicated that ‘knowledge on pesticides’, ‘rice farming experience’, ‘extension contacts’, ‘attitude towards use of pesticides’, ‘rice farming area’, and ‘pre-cautions for using pesticides’ of the farmers had significant positive contribution to their efficiency in using selected pesticides for controlling rice pests. Agricultural advisory service providing organizations should increasing contact with the farmers having lower farming experience, lower farming area to increase their knowledge for taking necessary pre-cautions and to form favourable attitude towards judicious and efficient use of pesticides.