KOHINUR KHATUN1, MD. MAHBUBUL ALAM2* and MD. SEKENDER ALI3
1MS Student, 2Associate Professor and 3Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding author’s E-mail: mmahbubul_22@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted at the Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during 5 July to 29 July 2017 to determine the extent of innovativeness of betel leaf (Piper Betel L) growers to use improved practices for betel leaf cultivation in some selected areas of Rajshahi district. Attempts were also made to describe some of the selected characteristics of the betel leaf growers and their relationship to innovativeness of using improved farm practices. Data were collected from four villages namely Madhaimui, Dhkhin Daulotpur, Machmail and Soyodpur under Bagmara upazila under Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. One hundred thirty three (133) growers were selected randomly from a total of 1127 growers. An interview schedule was used for collection of data. The findings of the study indicate that more than half (60.9 percent) of the growers were found moderately innovative compared to 39.1 percent were found highly innovative in practicing improved techniques for betel leaf cultivation. Pearson Product-moment Correlation Coefficient indicates that among the selected characteristics, farm size, farming experience, knowledge in betel leaf cultivation and attitude towards betel leaf cultivation showed positive significant relationship with their innovativeness to use improved practices. On the other hand, age, education, annual family income and agricultural training of the growers did not show any significant relationship with their innovativeness to use improved practices in betel leaf cultivation.
Keywords: Innovativeness, Betel leaf, Use and Improved practices.