Vol. 11, Special Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Gautam Kumar, Amit Kumar and Dr. Pratyasha Tripathi

Abstract:
Agriculture is India's most important economic sector since it ensures food and livelihood security. Pesticides are used in agriculture to prevent crop-damaging pests, fungi, undesired plants (weeds), and a variety of crop-eating animals such as rats. The purpose of this study was to look into farmers' perceptions of pesticides, their knowledge of safe pesticide handling and application, and their pesticide usage practices. With 130 farmers, in-depth field surveys were conducted, which were supplemented with focus group discussions, interviews, questionnaires, and field observations. Pesticides were used by 17.7% of marginal farmers, 43.9 percent of small farmers, 6.2 percent of semi-medium farmers, and 1.5 percent of medium farmers for pest control; 3.1 percent of marginal farmers, 12.3 percent of small farmers, and 1.5 percent of medium farmers used pesticides for pest control. Pesticides were used by 17.7% of marginal farmers, 43.9 percent of small farmers, 6.2 percent of semi-medium farmers, and 1.5 percent of medium farmers for pest control, while 3.1 percent of marginal farmers, 12.3 percent of small farmers, 5.4 percent of semi-medium farmers, and 0.8 percent of medium farmers used pesticides for high yield. The most often used pesticides were Imidacloprid, Dimethoate, Monocrotophos, Chlorpyrifos, Phorate in insecticide, Carbendazim, Mancozeb in fungicide, and Pendimethalin, Atrazine in herbicide.