A Study on Knowledge Level and Attitude of Farmers towards Organic Farming in Ananthapuramu District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Organic farming is practicing in 187 countries, and 72.3 million hectares of agricultural land were managed organically by at least 3.1 million farmers. India is home to 30% of total organic producers in the world having 2.30 million ha (NCOF, 2021). A study was conducted in ten mandals of Ananthapuramu district with sample size of 100 and farmers were selected randomly. Pearson correlation, frequency, percentage, mean were calculated. From the results it was noticed that farmers have more knowledge related to statements viz., organic farming is a type of farming system in which crops are grown without the use of chemical inputs (85%) and knowledge gap percentage was 15. Farmers have positive attitude on statement I can obtain optimum production level in organic farming if we rear livestock at our farm with score of 244 and attitude gap percentage of 20 followed by organic farming will decrease the production cost by reducing the input purchases score of 243 and attitude gap percentage of 19. Education, extension contact, information seeking behaviour and awareness about organic farming variables were positively significant and highly correlated with attitude of farmers towards organic cultivation. Major constraints faced by the farmers were lack of skill regarding the preparation and usage of organic inputs (80%) followed by complicated methods for production of organic inputs and absence of premium price for organic produce in the local market (71%). Major suggestion were direct procurement of organic produce by government and supply to Midday Meals Scheme and Public Distribution System.