Abstract:
Information is an essential factor in the practice of farming and it is the foundation of
extension service delivery. The modern agrochemical companies generally provide
similar weedicide products with different brand names. Owing to this, farmers race
difficulties while selecting relevant weedicides. They need appropriate information in
order to select exact weedicides. In this regard, a study was conducted to find out the
information utilization and weedicide usage among the paddy farmers in the Eravur
Pattu Divisional Secretariat division of Batticaloa district Hundred number of paddy
farmers were randomly selected for this study. Questionnaire survey was used as the
primary data collection method. Secondary data were collected from published sources.
The study reveals that, obtaining higher yield was the main reason for the usage of
weedicides by the paddy farmers to control weeds in their farm land, followed by
severe weed attack. Regarding the information related to weedicide application, paddy
farmers in the Eravur Pattu area frequently got information on weedcide application
rate from the Extension personnel. But, the selection of agrochemical traders to
purchase weedicide was mainly determined by the farmers themselves. Significant
associations were observed between fanning experience and purchasing decision based
on Extension agents and also farming type and purchasing decision based on Extension
agents. It was recommended mat Extension agents should intensify their efforts in
educating and advising farmers how to utilize the relevant information to decide
relevant weedicides.
