Identification of chemical pesticides buying behaviour of vegetable growers in Nadia district of West Bengal

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. (India economic survey 2018). 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. 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. Vegetables are very common diet of the inhabitants of West Bengal. As a result of this, the quality of vegetables we eat is a big factor regarding our health issues. So, we need to understand the pesticide use pattern followed by the vegetable growers. The use pattern will reflect the knowledge of the vegetable growers regarding the spraying mechanism, proper doses, time of spraying and time interval needed to be followed while spraying pesticides, awareness regarding type of damage; identification of pest and proper plant protection measures. Keeping all these in view the present study is designed to identify the buying behavior profile of different groups of vegetable growers in controlling insect, pest and diseases 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 and Chakdahcommunity development block of Kalyani sub division was randomly selected for the study. Rautari gram panchayat was selected randomly from all the gram panchayats of Chakdah community development block. Three villages namely Teghara, Ruppur and Rameswarpur was 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. Buying behavioural profile reveals the description of the behaviour in terms of preferences of the behaviour in terms of preferences of the farmers with relation to various aspects of pesticides purchasing like brand selection, shopping behaviour, product dealer company characteristics, cost consciousness, credit orientation, packaging, consultancy etc. In the study, the buying behavioural profile of chemical pesticides of the different segments of vegetable growers i.e. brinjal growers (Bg), pointed gourd growers (Pg) and cauliflower growers (Cg) was observed in relation to the above mentioned aspects. 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 vegetable growers considering their chemical pesticides buying behaviours.