Constraints in environmental pollution mitigation by farmers in Kerala

India is predominantly an agricultural country with many rural habitations. Even though the application of fertilizers is low in our country, there is considerable runoff with fertilizer and pesticide residue into rural ponds and stagnant water bodies. Crop residue burning in Northern India is a major menace to environmental safety and WHO reports the Indo-Gangatic plains to have one of the poorest air qualities. The amount of postharvest agricultural waste generated is 1.5 to 2.25 times as that of the actual crop quantities. The particulate matter visibility in New Delhi has shown a 60per cent increase during post monsoon season, in 2016. In this regard, the awareness and efforts taken by the farmers, to mitigate the ill effects of environmental pollution are of utmost importance. To know the constraints faced by farmers in mitigating the ill effects of environmental pollution, so as to give suggestions and recommendations to them, the present study was carried out in Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. Thrissur and Palakkad districts of Kerala were purposively selected with 90 respondents, 30 each of paddy, banana and vegetable farmers. The major constraints were identified based on importance and ranked using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W). Inadequacy of waste disposal and recycling was the major constraint as expressed by farmers. Increased emergence of pests and diseases were also major constraints as opined by the farmers. The lack of access to mass media was identifies as a minor constraint. The study suggested some remedial measures to the farmers, which if implemented aptly by them can help them tide over the hazardous effects of environmental pollution on their farms.