A Study on the Knowledge Level of Paddy Growers Regarding Combine Harvesters in Mandya District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in five taluks of Mandya district in Karnataka state during 2024-25 to assess the knowledge of paddy growers on combine harvester. One hundred paddy growers were selected based on random sampling technique and same were personally interviewed to assess the knowledge about the combine harvester. Expost facto research design was employed for the research study. The study was conducted based on the major objective viz., to assess the knowledge of paddy growers on combine harvester. The data was analysed by using the statistical tools like frequency, percentage, chi-square value test and Discriminant function technique. The results revealed that a vast majority of paddy growers (80.00 %) had possessed medium to high knowledge on combine harvester. Extension agency contact, extension participation, mass media exposure farm mechanization, paddy farming experience farming commitment and innovativeness of paddy growers occupied the first seven ranks (positions) in the discriminant function analysis and contributed 84.68 per cent in developing knowledge among paddy growers on combine harvester.  The study concludes that mass media and extension agency plays a vital role in creating awareness among the farming community to about the usage of combine harvester among farmers.