Impact of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Trainings in Adoption of Biofertilizers and Bio-Pesticides Practices by Pigeonpea Growers

Gulbarga region of the Karnataka is known as “Pulse bowl” of Karnataka. Since it is grown as a sole crop, is prone to the attack of several insect pests and diseases. Among which the pigeon pea pod borer, with this background to minimize the burden of chemical on environment and also the cost of cultivation, it is therefore, imperative that, alternative environment friendly methods of plant protection like integrated pest management (IPM) techniques including the use of bio-pesticides are the next best resources for agriculture. Trichoderma, Nucleo polyhedrosis virus (NPV), Neem products and Bacillus thuringiensis are popular. The study was taken up in Gulbarga district of Karnataka with four Talukss namely; Gulbarga, Chittapur, Aland and Sedam involving 160 farmers (80 trained and 80 untrained). Data were collected by personal interview method using structured interview schedule. It reveled that 47.50 per cent of trained and 12.50 per cent of untrained respondents belonged to medium adoption level category, Regarding adoption level of Rhizobium practices, 43.75 and 11.25 per cent of trained and untrained farmers were of high adoption category, Majority of 47.50 and 90.00 per cent of trained and untrained farmers were of low adoption category with respect to adoption level of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria practices, Regarding the adoption level of utility of NSKE practices, half of the trained (50.00%) respondents and only 15.00% of untrained respondent were of medium adoption category. In adoption level of utility of Trichoderma practices, 68.75 per cent and 10.00 per cent of trained and untrained respondents, respectively, belonged to medium adoption category and regarding adoption level of utility of bio-digester practices, 48.75 and 6.25 per cent of trained and untrained farmers were of medium adoption category.