COMPARATIVE STUDY ON INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) USERS AND NON-USERS: CASE OF BITTER GOURD GROWERS IN NARSINGDI DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess the comparative profitability and factors affecting production of bitter gourd growers with IPM and without IPM. In total, 160 farmers were randomly selected from four villages under Shibpur Upazila in Narsingdi district. Apart from descriptive statistics, profitability analysis, an independent sample t-test and Cobb-Douglas production function were employed to achieve specific objectives of the study. To get a complete picture of Bitter gourd production using both IPM and non-IPM technology, the socio-economic profile of farmers was examined and compared. The study found that IPM farmers were in better-off condition than that of non-IPM farmers in almost all types of socioeconomic characteristics. The major findings of the study revealed that production of Bitter gourd was profitable for both IPM users and non-IPM users. But IPM users earned more profit than non-IPM users on bitter gourd production. The average total cost of bitter gourd production per hectare was estimated at about Tk. 2,90,492 and Tk. 3,24,307 for IPM and Non-IPM users, respectively. The average yield for the IPM and non-IPM users was found 22.01 ton per hectare and 21.53 ton per hectare respectively. The average gross returns per hectare were found at about Tk 6,60,329 for IPM users and the same were Tk 6,46,076 for non-IPM users. The estimated BCR was higher for IPM users (2.27) than non-IPM users (1.99). From independent sample t-test, it was concluded that mean yield, mean gross return and mean net return for IPM users were significantly higher than non-IPM users of bitter gourd. Cobb-Douglas production function analysis suggested that the coefficient of seed, urea, TSP, irrigation and cow dung had positive and significant effect on the yield of Bitter gourd. On the other hand, human labor, power tiller and MoP had negative and significant effect on the yield of Bitter gourd production. Although bitter gourd production was profitable, farmers faced several problems such as lack of proper training facilities and technological knowledge, weak extension services, labor scarcity, lack of awareness etc. in adopting and practicing IPM technology.