STUDY ON ROLE OF GENDER IN PESTICIDE USAGE IN BITTER GOURD

K. UMA¹, M. MALARKODI²*
¹Professor, Department of Agricultural and Rural Management, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
²Directorate of Agribusiness Development, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India, India
* Corresponding Author : malarkodi.m@tnau.ac.in

Received : 29-06-2019     Accepted : 26-07-2019     Published : 30-07-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 14       Pages : 8792 - 8796
Int J Agr Sci 11.14 (2019):8792-8796

Keywords : Pesticide Usage, Cultivation Practices, Role of gender and Willingness
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to project sponsor IPM-CRSP and USAID. Authors are also thankful to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Adverse effect on soil health and environment has created a worrying situation. A situation has resulted which urgently demands an environmentally safe, sustainable and simultaneously, economically viable production system. Farmers were cultivating vegetables from the beginning when they started their farming independently. Farmers were growing bitter gourd as 2 crops per year without crop rotation. Government extension officers, seed dealers and fellow farmers were major source of information to decide about seed purchase. The farmers were reported that more dosage and a greater number of sprays were necessary to have effective pest control. Private dealers are playing major role in selecting choice of the variety, pesticide name, quantity and frequency of application. Farmers used to remove infested plants. Farmers aware of bio pesticide/bio-control agents, intercropping, crop rotation, trap crop, neem oil application etc. Farmers interested in controlling pest by other than chemical method. All farmers were willing to adopt other alternatives measure than the pesticides after explaining health effect of pesticides exposure and residue.

1. Sushil S.N. (2016) International Conference, SKUAST, Jammu Conference proceedings 2016.
2. Jana Hiralal (2014) Agriculture Update, 993), 320-326.
3. Sengupta, Wasim Aktar Dwaipayan and Ashim Chowdhury (2009) Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 2(1), 1–12.
4. http://tnhorticulture.tn.gov.in/horti/vegetables