Knowledge and Adoption Level of Plant Protection Schedule and Certified Seed by Potato Growers

The present study was carried out during the year 2012–13 in Surguja district of Northern Hilly zone of Chattisgarh. Finding of the study were that before FLD, majority of respondents belonged to low level of knowledge regarding plant protection schedule, time or schedule of use of insecticide/pesticide for storage pests (74.3), whereas, after FLD, maximum number of respondents were having medium level of knowledge about seed treatment, time of schedule of fungicide and other chemicals for diseases control and use of insecticide/pesticide for storage pest (51.4%). In case of adoption level, before FLD maximum number of respondents belonged to low level of adoption about seed treatment and time or schedule of use of insecticide/pesticide for storage pests (77.1%). While after FLD, maximum numbers of respondents were having medium level of adoption were about use of insecticide/pesticide for storage pests (54.3%). Regarding use of certified seed of potato before FLD, majority of respondents belonged to low level of knowledge about source of availability of certified seed of potato (82.9%). However, after FLD maximum respondents belonged to medium level of knowledge were about time of sowing (62.9%). Level of adoption regarding use of certified seed of potato before FLD majority of respondents belonged to low level of adoption were seed rate (85.7%), while adoption level after FLD maximum respondents belonged to high level of adoption were time of sowing (60.0%). In case of problems faced by respondents regarding use of certified seed maximum respondents having problems of more demand of local red variety of potato by consumer and cost of seed potato (100.0%) both followed by non availability of certified seed of potato in market and lack of facility of cold storage (94.3%) both.