Chemical pesticides use pattern of brinjal growers in Nadia district of West Bengal

The rapid increase in consumption of pesticide to improve the production and productivity to feed the growing population, leads us to a number of issues which needs attention in recent times. Pesticides should be used judiciously in view of its high social cost as environmental pollution associated with its consumption, production and distribution. Though environmental considerations would warrant the considerations of use of proper pesticides at proper time and time interval in proper doses, the farmers are concerned with private profitability which is not eco friendly and detrimental to the human race. Agriculture is of outmost importance for the vast number of people of this country as it is the largest component of India’s economic life. Since crop production is being influenced by a large number of factors, it is often impossible to measure all possible factors in every crop management unit. But some of these factors need attention in recent times for betterment of our environment. Agriculture being the backbone of Indian economy has a crucial role to play in the country’s economic development. India ranks second worldwide in farm outputs and as a predominant rural economy it shares 50 percent of its work force in agriculture and contribution of agriculture in Indian economy is 18 percent. Farmers who are cultivating vegetables, they are using maximum numbers and amount of pesticides compared to cereal crops per unit area. Plant protection is an exercise basically followed in any crop for control of insect-pests, diseases, weeds etc. to avoid economic losses. For proper application of pesticides –there are specific recommendations. Due to lack of awareness of farmers regarding those recommendations, they are using pesticides deviating its proper processes and considerations. As a result, they are facing health related problems. Keeping all these in view the present study was designed with objective to know the chemical pesticides use pattern of brinjal growers in nadia district of West Bengal. The present study was conducted in Nadia district of West Bengal. Nadia district was purposively selected for the study. Under Kalyani sub-division of this district, Chakdah community development block was selected randomly for the study. Under this block, Rautari gram panchayat was selected randomly from all the gram panchayats. Under Rautari gram panchayat, three villages namely Teghara, Ruppur and Rameswarpur were selected purposively as the villages were in close proximity. Complete enumeration of the farmers in the villages was attended. Farmers who were available up to three times were included in the sample. In this way 73 brinjal growers from Teghara, 62 pointed gourd growers from Ruppur and 69 cauliflower growers from Rameswarpur were selected for the study who grow crops in parcels of plots under bigger common field . In this way total 204 respondents were selected. For the present study, we will consider only 73 brinjal growers. From the present study it was clear that brinjal crop is a round the year crop. Majority of the respondents (56.16%) applied pesticide 4-7 days interval. Brinjal growers usual utilization of amount of water for spraying pesticides at seedling stage of brinjal crop was 20-30 litres per bigha and it was reported by 83.56 percent of respondents. Similarly at mature stage of brinjal crop, majority of brinjal growers (87.67%) used 100-140 litres of water per bigha for spraying pesticides. The four major insect-pests of brinjal crop were (1) Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (2) white fly (3) mite and (4) aphid. Out of it, Brinjal shoot and fruit borer was most harmful insect-pest and cent percent of respondents (100%) reported it. Major diseases of brinjal crop were –(1) fruit rot (2) phomopsis blight (3) brinjal anthracnose (4) leaf spot and (5) damping off. Out of it, fruit rot was the most damaging disease of brinjal crop and it was reported by 61.64 percent of brinjal growers. Insect-pests and diseases both mainly attacked the brinjal crop at mature stage. For controlling the insect-pests and diseases of Brinjal crop, brinjal growers used many chemicals with their doses. To avoid the unnecessary use of pesticides, regulations regarding the use or pesticides and proper verification of the procedure should be carried out. Creation of awareness on the basis of family based training, sensitization through value and ethics based capacity building and utilization of religious and community leaders in this regard may be useful to overcome the issue. Therefore, the base level extension agencies should take proper measures on the basis of findings of the study to make their further extension programme more effective and steps should be taken to change the perception of the brinjal growers regarding the use of the safety measures.