Title: ADOPTION OF PLANT PROTECTION PRACTICES BY PADDY GROWERS

Authors: P. B. Khodifad, V. B.Lakkad and O. P. Sharma

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: paddy crop, adoption, plant protection practices, valsad, Gujarat

Volume: 40

Issue: 2

Year: December 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2025.40.2.0016

Abstract: Paddy, a staple crop in India, faces substantial challenges from pests and diseases, which can severely impact yields and lead to economic losses for farmers. Effective plant protection practices are essential for reducing these risks and ensuring food security. However, many farmers lack awareness and access to the latest plant protection techniques, resulting in limited adoption of these methods and increased crop vulnerability. Addressing this gap requires a focused approach to information dissemination, technology transfer, and capacity building to promote sustainable, cost-effective protection practices. This study examined the adoption of plant protection practices among paddy growers in Valsad district of Gujarat State, using a sample of 150 farmers selected through multistage random sampling. Data were gathered through personal interviews, analyzing thirteen independent variables, with adoption as the dependent variable. Findings showed that Majority of respondents had medium mass media exposure (62.00%), medium fatalism (62.67%), medium level of risk orientation (66.00%), medium Economic motivation 68.67% and medium management orientation (74.00%); half or nearly half of the respondents were in the category of medium-sized land holdings (46.67%), scientific orientation (50.00%), middle-aged (52.00%), innovativeness (52.00%), Decision-making ability (53.34%) and moderate annual incomes (58.67%), whereas, nearly one third of respondents demonstrated primary education (30.67% ) and had membership in one organization (37.33%). Results also revealed that the majority (66.67 %) of respondents had a medium level adoption of plant protection practices of the paddy crop. In case of practice-wise adoption, the flooding method for controlling weeds securedthe highest rank with 83.33 per cent of paddy growers. Key factors influencing viz; risk orientation (r=0.447), mass media exposure (r=0.585), scientific orientation (r=0.717) and management orientation (r=0.276), decision-making skills (r=0.543), economic motivation (r=0.520), and innovativeness (r=0.430) had a significant influence on the adoption of plant protection practices of paddy crop. Conversely, age (r=-0.270) had a negative correlation, while fatalism (r=-0.016) showed a non-significant relationship. These insights highlight the need to encourage paddy growers to adopt plant protection practices.