knowledge of cotton farmers on health hazards of pesticides in kurnool district of andhra pradesh

173 Pages·2016·3.33 MB·English

KNOWLEDGE OF COTTON FARMERS ON
HEALTH HAZARDS OF PESTICIDES IN

KURNOOL DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

BY
P. NAGARJUNA REDDY
B.Sc. (Ag.)

THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE
ACHARYA N.G.RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE
(EXTENSION EDUCATION)

CHAIRPERSON: Dr. T. LAKSHMI

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION

SRI VENKATESWARA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, TIRUPATI
ACHARYA N.G.RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
RAJENDRA NAGAR, HYDERABAD – 500 030

2013
DECLARATION

I, Mr. P. NAGARJUNA REDDY hereby declare that the thesis
entitled “KNOWLEDGE OF COTTON FARMERS ON HEALTH
HAZARDS OF PESTICIDES IN KURNOOL DISTRICT OF
ANDHRA PRADESH” submitted to the Acharya N.G.Ranga
Agricultural University, for the award of degree of MASTER OF
SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE is the result of original research
work done by me. I also declare that no material contained in this
thesis has been published earlier in any manner.

Place: (P. NAGARJUNA REDDY)
Date: I.D. No. TAM/2011-14
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CERTIFICATE

Mr. P. NAGARJUNA REDDY has satisfactorily prosecuted the course
of research and that thesis entitled “KNOWLEDGE OF COTTON
FARMERS ON HEALTH HAZARDS OF PESTICIDES IN KURNOOL
DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH” submitted is the result of original
research work and is of sufficiently high standard to warrant its presentation to
the examination. I also certify that neither the thesis nor its part thereof has
been previously submitted by him for a degree of any university.

(Dr. T. LAKSHMI)
Date :
Chairperson

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CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the thesis entitled “KNOWLEDGE OF COTTON
FARMERS ON HEALTH HAZARDS OF PESTICIDES IN KURNOOL
DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH” submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
AGRICULTURE of Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, is a
record of the bonafide research work carried out by Mr. P. NAGARJUNA
REDDY under our guidance and supervision.
No part of the thesis has been submitted by the student for the award of any
other degree or diploma. The published part has been fully acknowledged. All
assistance and help received during the course of the investigation have been duly
acknowledged by the author of the thesis.

(T. LAKSHMI)
Chairperson of the Advisory Committee

Thesis approved by the Student’s Advisory Committee:

Chairperson : Dr.T. LAKSHMI, ________________
Associate Professor,
Department of Extension Education,
S.V. Agricultural College,
Tirupati – 517 502, A.P.

Member : Dr. S.V. PRASAD, ________________
Professor and Head,
Department of Extension Education,
S.V. Agricultural College,
Tirupati – 517 502, A.P.

Member : Dr. G.MOHAN NAIDU, ________________
Assistant Professor & Head,
Dept. of Statistics and Mathematics,
S.V.Agricultural College,
Tirupati – 517 502, A.P.

Date of final viva-voce:

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am inexpressibly ecstatic to extol my deepest admiration and gratitude to
luminous educationalist, dynamic and esteemed chairperson of my advisory committee
Dr. T. LAKSHMI, Associate Professor, Department of Extension Education,
S.V.Agricultural College, Tirupati for her arduous and meticulous guidance, unremitting
assistance and illuminating suggestions which have instilled in me the spirit of confidence
to successfully embellish the study, research and completion of this thesis inspite of her
busy schedule. It is indeed a privilege for me to work under her untiring, inspiring and
indomitable spirit.
I am greatly beholden beyond words to express my sense of gratitude to the revered
member of my advisory committee, Dr. S.V. PRASAD, Professor and Head, Department
of Extension Education, S.V.Agricultural College, Tirupati for his affectionate guidance,
friendly care and generous help bestowed to me.
I am pleased to place my profound etiquette to Dr. G.MOHAN NAIDU, Assistant
Professor and Head, Department of Statistics and Mathematics, S.V.Agricultural College,
Tirupati and member of my advisory committee for his inspiring, meticulous and valuable
guidance, constructive advise during the entire period of my investigation.
With deep respect and esteem regards, I owe my indebtedness to Dr. V. SAILAJA,
Assistant Professor, Department of Extension Education, S.V.Agricultural College,
Tirupati and Dr. P.V. SATYAGOPAL, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Kalikiri for their
valuable suggestions, persistent encouragement, timely help, sense of affection and
cheerful assistance.
I extend my candid thanks to Dr. N.V.NAIDU, Associate Dean, S.V.Agricultural
College, Tirupati and Dr. T. MURALI KRISHNA, Principal Scientist, RARS, Tirupati
for their scrutiny of the knowledge test items.
It is time to surface out my gratitude to my beloved parents
Smt.P.MAHALAKSHMI and Sri.P. VENKATESWARA REDDY and the almighty
I have been able to successfully complete and present this humble piece of work for which
I am eternally indebted to their feet I bow with my head with great reverence.
It is indifferent to put my feelings into words of thanks to my beloved brother
P.Uday Kumar Reddy for his affection and encouragement.
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I feel elated to express my bountiful thanks to my colleagues Hruday Ranjan,
Sreeram and Srihari seniors Govardan, Maheshwar Reddy, Ashoka Reddy, Sandeep,
Surendra, Raviprakash Reddy, Sharath Kumar Reddy, Pavan Kumar Reddy,
Nagaraju, Ramalakshmi Devi, Ashok Kumar juniors Satyanarayana and Srividya
Rani for their friendly assistance and valuable cooperation during my study and research.
The vocabulary utterly fails me to express the stupendous weight of heartful
gratitude to my beloved friends Santhosh, Venkatesh, Nazeer, Siva, Ravi, Sunil and
Praveen.
I am thankful to Visweswara Rao, Subramanyam and Subramanyam Naidu
supporting staff, Department of Extension Education, for their assistance during my
research work.
I am grateful to Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar for
providing me with the opportunity for prosecuting my post graduation programme and also
the facilities and financial assistance provided during my study.
I sincerely thank the farming community, Agriculture Extension Officers and
Agriculture Officers who helped me in successfully completing my research work.
Diction is my predilection to express my heartfelt thanks to all who helped me
directly or indirectly not placed here, for their kind cooperation and support rendered to
me.


Nagarjuna Reddy…
.

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LIST OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO.
I. INTRODUCTION 1-6
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 7-35
III. MATERIAL AND METHODS 36-62
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 63-104
V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 105-115
LITERATURE CITED 116-126
APPENDICES 127-145

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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
Title
No. No.
3.1. Selection of mandals, villages and respondents for the study 41
3.2. Variables and their empirical measurement 42
4.1. Distribution of respondents according to their age 64
4.2. Distribution of respondents according to their education 65
4.3 Distribution of respondents according to their farm size 67
Distribution of respondents according to their farming
4.4 68
experience
Distribution of respondents according to their extension
4.5. 70
contact
Distribution of respondents according to their social
4.6. 71
participaton
Distribution of respondents according to their economic
4.7. 73
motivation
Distribution of respondents according to their
4.8. 74
innovativeness
Distribution of respondents according to their mass media
4.9. 76
exposure
Distribution of respondents according to their risk
4.10. 77
orientation
Distribution of respondents according to their scientific
4.11. 79
orientation
4.12. Distribution of respondents according to their knowledge 81
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Table Page
Title
No. No.
4.13 Signs and symptoms of illness among cotton farmers 84
Relationship between selected independent variables and
4.14. 86
knowledge of cotton farmers on health hazards of pesticides
MLR analysis of the selected independent variables with the
4.15. 94
knowledge of respondents
4.16. Problems perceived by respondents in use of pesticides 95
4.17. Suggestions offered by respondents 97
Strategic involvement of different institutions and organizations
4.18. 102
to reduce the health hazards of cotton farmers due to pesticides

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. No. Title Page No.
2.1. Conceptual model of the study 35
3.1. Map showing Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh 38
3.2. Map showing selected mandals and villages in 39
Kurnool district
3.3. Sampling procedure followed in the study 40
4.1. Distribution of respondents according to their age 66
4.2. Distribution of respondents according to their 66
education
4.3. Distribution of respondents according to their farm 69
size
4.4. Distribution of respondents according to their farming 65
experience
4.5. Distribution of respondents according to their 62
extension contact
4.6. Distribution of respondents according to their social 72
participation
4.7. Distribution of respondents according to their 75
economic motivation
4.8. Distribution of respondents according to their 75
innovativeness
4.9. Distribution of respondents according to their mass 78
media exposure

x