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Farmers’ Knowledge on Arsenic Related Problems of Environment

A. B. M. A. Haq
CWBMP, Department of Environment, Agargaon, Dhaka

A. S. M. Z. Karim
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, BAU, Mymensingh

M. A. Kashem
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The purpose of the study was to determine farmers’ knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment and to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the farmers and their knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment. Data were collected from randomly selected 105 farmers of three selected villages of Gouripur upazila under Mymensingh district during September to October 2004. Knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment was the dependent variable and its score could range from 0 to 100 while the observed range 41 to 73. The average knowledge score of the farmers was 53.64. More than two-thirds (67 percent) of the respondents had medium knowledge while 28 and 5 percent of them possessed high and low knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment. Out of ten selected characteristics of the farmers, education, annual income, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, number of training received, duration of training received and communication exposure had significant positive relationships with their knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment whereas age showed significant negative relationship with the same.

Keywords: Arsenic, Environment, Farmers’ knowledge

Location: Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh district.

Start Date: 01-09-2004

End Date: 31-10-2004

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Adoption and mitigation technology

Objectives:

i). To determine and describe the extent of knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment and ii) To explore the relationships between farmers’ selected characteristics and their knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment.

Methodology:

The study was confined to three villages (Achintapur, Chorakona and Krishnapur) in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh district. Population of the study was constituted by 697 male farm family heads of the selected villages. From the population 15 percent was randomly selected to obtain a sample containing 105 respondents. Data were collected using pre-tested interview schedule during September to October 2004 through personal interview. To measure the farmers’ knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment, 25 questions on various aspects of arsenic related problems of environment were asked to each of the respondent farmers. Four probable answers were set under each question item. Scores were assigned as 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the least appropriate to the most appropriate answer under each question item. Thus, the possible total scores of the farmers could range from 25 to 100, where 25 indicated very low knowledge and 100 indicated very high knowledge on arsenic related problems of environment. The independent variables viz. age, education, family size, farm size, annual income, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, number of training received, duration of training received and communication exposure were measured by the prevailing standard methodology. Correlation between dependent and independent variables was calculated through computing ‘r’ values.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education ISSN 1011-3916 Volume 19, No. 1&2, 2007:27-32

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Farmers’ knowledge related to arsenic related problems of environment was above average, but there is still ample scope to improve their knowledge level. The vital characteristics of the farmers namely age, education, annual income, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, number of training received, duration of training received and communication exposure which had significant relationships with their knowledge on arsenic related problems must be kept in favor of knowledge improvement. For this, extension workers should give special attention to younger farmers. Effective training program related to environmental issues by government and non-government organizations should be arranged in organizational framework for increasing organizational participation as well as knowledge level. Adult education and mass literacy program might be strengthened including environmental issues in general and arsenic in particular in the teaching curricula.

Knowledge Management: Journal