A study on Extent and Level of Adoption of Pesticides in Potato Crop

Abstract

A study on extent and level of adoption of plant protection practices in potato crop by the potato farmers in the sub-tropical zone of Jammu dvision of Jammu and Kashmir State was conducted during 2011-12. Three districts namely Jammu, Kathua and Samba were selected purposively on the basis of maximum area under potato crop in the sub-tropical zone of Jammu division. A sample size of 225 potato growers was selected randomly from 15- villages selected purposively on the basis of proportionality of area under potato cultivation. The potato farmers have used both recommended and non-recommended pesticides. More than half of the farmers had used recommended insecticides endosuJphan 35 EC and 32 per cent of farmers had adopted dimethoate 30 EC to control the insect/pest like cutworm, potato aphids and potato leaf hopper. Fifty six per cent potato farmers had applied recommended fungicide copper oxychloride and 27 per cent farmers had used meta!xyl+mancozeb. The level of adoption of recommended dosage of pesticide was about 45. 00 per cent of farmers revealed comple te adoption of recommended doses of insecticides like endosuJphan 35 EC and 52 per cent farmers had adopted dimethoate 30 EC. Further (48%) of farm ers had used recommended dosage of fungicides copper oxychloride and 49 p er cent of farmers had adopted metalxyl+mancozeb to control the diseases such as late blight and early blight.