RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFILE OF FARMERS WITHTHEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS MEXICAN BEETLE

Abstract

A study was conducted in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, during 2022–23 to evaluate farmers' attitudes toward using the Mexican beetle (Zygogrammabicolorata) for biological control of parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus). Most respondents were educated up to the secondary school level, belonged to medium-sized families, and had moderate farming experience. Key characteristics such as economic motivation, scientific orientation, knowledge level, landholding size, annual income, social participation, extension contact, mass media exposure, and risk orientation were predominantly categorized as medium. Farmers generally exhibited favorable attitudes toward the Mexican beetle, with 23.33% expressing highly favorable attitudes and 22.50% showing less favorable attitudes. Correlation analysis revealed that family size, farming experience, economic motivation, knowledge level, landholding size, annual income, social participation, extension contact, mass media exposure, and risk orientation significantly influenced farmers' attitudes. Moreover, education and scientific orientation exhibited a highly significant positive relationship with their acceptance of the Mexican beetle as a biological control agent. These findings underscore the critical role of socio-economic and psychological factors in shaping farmers' attitudes toward adopting sustainable agricultural practices. The study emphasizes the need for targeted extension and awareness programs to promote the use of biological control methods like the Mexican beetle, thereby fostering environmentally sustainable approaches in weed management.