Communication Source Utilization Pattern of Dairy Farmers’ Pertaining to Foot and Mouth Disease in Kerala

A study has been conducted among the dairy farmers in Thrissur district to assess the communication source utilization regarding Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The exposure of dairy farmers to different communication sources and their relative preference as a source of information of FMD was assessed using the ranking method. Interpersonal channels were the effective sources of obtaining information about FMD followed by mass media and trainings. Majority of the dairy farmers used still used newspaper as the source of information, television occupied only second position. Veterinary surgeon was the most important source of information among interpersonal channels followed by neighbours and friends. Only about forty percent of the dairy farmers prefer to attend lecture classes than seminars or group discussions. First-hand information about communication source utilization will be much helpful for the extension agents and policy makers to implement appropriate disease mitigation strategies in the affected area which can be imbibed easily by the farmers.