Attitude of Small and Large Grape Growers towards Integrated Pest Management Practices in Karnataka, India

Abstract

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach combining biological, cultural, and chemical methods to control pests in crops like grapes, reducing environmental and health risks. However, its adoption remains limited due to farmers’ attitudes, lack of awareness, and reliance on chemical pesticides, highlighting the need for greater support and education, especially among small-scale farmers. The present study was conducted during 2023–24 in Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka to analyse the attitude of small and big farmers towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in grape cultivation. An ex-post-facto research design was followed, and 120 grape growers (sixty small farmers and sixty big farmers cultivating grapes) were selected randomly from 12 villages of Chikkaballapura and Sidlaghatta taluks. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule, and farmers’ attitude towards IPM was measured using the scale developed by Krishnamurthy (1999). The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, zero-order correlation, and Student’s ‘t’ test. The results revealed that 38.33% of small farmers had a favourable attitude towards IPM practices, followed by 36.67% with less favourable and 25.00% with more favourable attitude. Among big farmers, 35.00% exhibited a more favourable attitude, while 33.33% and 31.67% showed favourable and less favourable attitudes, respectively. Overall, 35.83% of the pooled sample had a favourable attitude towards IPM practices. The t-test indicated no significant difference between small and big farmers in their mean attitude scores. Further, variables such as education, experience in grape cultivation, knowledge of IPM, innovativeness, risk orientation, mass media participation, extension participation, and extension contact showed significant to highly significant relationships with farmers’ attitudes. The study suggests strengthening extension services, training programmes, and mass media communication to enhance farmers’ favourable attitude and promote wider adoption of IPM practices in grape cultivation.