USE OF MODERN AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY BY THE FARMERS’ FOR RICE PRODUCTION IN DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The main purposes of this study are to determine the use of modern agricultural machinery by the farmers’ for rice production and to explore its relationships with their selected characteristics. The study was carried out in Chehelgazi union of Sadar upazila under Dinajpur district. One hundred one (101) rice farmers were selected as sample from an updated list of 1010 farmers involved in rice production. Data were collected by a pre-tested interview schedule during 10th February to 15th March, 2018 through face to face personal interview. Simple and direct questions with different scales were used to obtain information. Pearson's Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation (r) was computed in order to explore the relationships between the eight selected characteristics of the rice farmers and their extent of use of modern agricultural machinery for rice production. Using Index of Modern Agricultural Machinery (UIMAM) values ranged from 5 to 301 against the possible range of 0 to 303. Overall use scores of modern agricultural machinery range from 8 to 24 against a possible range of 0 to 36. The mean and standard deviation were 14.25 and 3.85, respectively. It was found that (94.1 percent) had “low use” compared to 5.9 percent had “medium use” and none of them had “high use” of modern agricultural machinery. Results showed that highest used was found in power tiller and shallow tube wells UIMAM is 301 and 296, respectively and lowest used was found in rice transplanter and winnower, UIMAM is 5 and 6, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that among eight selected characteristics family size and farm size of the farmers had showed positive significant relationship with their extent of use of modern agricultural machinery. However, age, education, farming experience, annual income, training received and attitude towards modern agricultural machinery did not show any significant relationship with their use of modern agricultural machinery.