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Integrated Plant Nutrient Management: Farmers’ Practice at Field Level

M. G. Farouque
Ph. D. Student
Laboratory of Socioeconomic Science of Food Production, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The major focus of this study was to determine the extent of practice of IPNM approach by the farmers for their crop production. A sample of 120 farmers consist of landless, marginal, small, medium and large was selected randomly for data collection from a population of 805. Eight villages under four districts were the locale of the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews from December 2005 to January 2006. Four point scale such as ‘do not practice’, ‘rarely practice’, ‘occasionally practice’ and ‘regularly practice by assigning the scores of 0, 1, 2 and 3 respectively for collection of data. The highest proportion of landless, marginal and small farmers were found with either do not practice or rarely practice categories regarding the practice of the components of IPNM approach for their crop production. Medium and large farmers, on the other hand, do practice these components either occasionally or regularly. Findings concerning overall practice of this approach by the farmers reveals that a little more than two-fifths (42%) of the farmers practice IPNM approach rarely followed by occasionally practiced category (41%), while a less than one-fifths (17%) practice regularly. Farmers’ financial inability, high prices and unavailability of fertilizers during cropping seasons, farmers’ lack of knowledge about IPNM approach, inadequate extension support, and shortage of bio-fuel and population pressure were identified as the major reasons among others that direct farmers towards inadequate practice of IPNM approach.

Keywords: IPNM, Plant Nutrient, Crop Production

Location: Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Netrokona

Start Date: 01-12-2005

End Date: 31-01-2006

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

To determine the extent of practice of different components of IPNM approach by different categories of farmers.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in eight villages of four districts namely, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Netrokona in Bangladesh. According to BBS (2003) the yield of different agricultural crops remained stagnant or getting reduced since few years of the areas. Besides, soil fertility of the areas is declining gradually (BARC, 1999). The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), other agricultural organizations and Non- government organizations (NGOs) identified that improper management of soil fertility and plant nutrients is one of the important reasons for stagnating/reducing the yields as well as declining soil fertility. However, 805 farmers from different categories such as landless, marginal, small, medium and large farmers from eight villages were considered as the population of this study. About fifteen percent of total population i.e. 120 farmers (39 landless, 34 marginal, 19 small, 20 medium and 8 large farmers) were selected randomly from whom data were collected through face-to-face interviews from December 2005 to January 2006. Measurement of farmers’ practice of IPNM approach According to FAO (1998) there are seven components of integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) approach and farmers’ practice of these components might improve/preserve soil fertility and increase crop yields. These are balanced fertilization, composting, crop residue management, crop rotations, cover crops, mixed cropping and green manuring. Farmers’ practice of IPNM approach was measured in two ways: i) based on practice of different components by different categories of farmers; and ii) based on overall practice of this approach by farmers. To measure the extent of farmers’ practice of different components of IPNM approach, a four-point summated rating scale was employed. The respondents were asked to indicate their extent to which each of these components and approach itself was practiced with: ‘do not practice’, ‘rarely practice’, ‘occasionally practice’ and ‘regularly practice’. These responses were assigned a score of 0, 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, a farmer could receive a score ranging from 0 to 21 and 0 to 3 describing the practice of different components concerning IPNM approach and overall use of this approach respectively.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, Volume 19, No. 1&2, 2007:33-40 ISSN 1011-3916,

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Although integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) approach helps to obtain better crop yields and maintain/improve soil fertility, an overwhelming proportion of farmers (83%) of the study area practice this approach either rarely or occasionally. They mostly run their farms to cultivate crops intensively to meet food requirements rather than managing plant nutrients in soil. It is clear that landless, marginal and small farmer i.e. the resource-poor groups in the study area practice different components of IPNM approach less frequently than medium and large farm holders. The appropriate use of plant nutrients and management of soil fertility will be necessary to achieve the sustainable agricultural production that will increase crop yields and preserve/improve soil fertility now and in the future. Therefore, it is essential that the government extension organization, especially Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and non-governmental extension organizations in Bangladesh should take measures to motivate farmers, particularly the resource-poor group (about 80% of the farming community), to increase their knowledge base about the components of IPNM approach. Providing sufficient facilities to practice this approach would obviously help farmers to achieve better yields of different crops and preserve soil as one of the important natural resources for better crop production.

Knowledge Management: Journal