Department of Agriculture Extension Education, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, BangladeshThe present study was conducted to determine the socio-economic profiles of the duck farmers and to investigate the management practices of duck farming and to identify the problems of duck farming in two upazilas of Rajshahi district namely: Bagmara and Tanore during the period from April to May 2012 by using a pre-tested questionnaire. Socio-economic profile of the duck farmers like age, education, family size, occupation, marital status, farm size, training received, annual income and management practices particularly housing, feeding, breeding, cleaning, disposal of diseased/dead birds, vaccination program, veterinary services followed by the farmers were investigated during the research. A total of 100 duck (50 from each upazila) were selected randomly for this study. The results reveal that most of the respondent farmers were young (60%) having secondary level of education (69%). Family size of the most of the farmers (57%) were small (size 4.53 persons) and majority of the farmers (75%) were marginal (0.021-020 hectare). Most of the farmers were medium income group (57%) with mean annual income of Tk. 200500. About 42% farmers had training on farming of different duration (7 to 30 d). Highest proportion of the duck houses were made of tin-shed (74%) having necessary floor space for ducks. The data obtained illustrated that majority of the farmers (74%) used sufficient supplementary feed to their ducks. About 65% of the farmers reared Deshi ducks in their farms. Most of the farmers (70%) cleaned their farm houses regularly. About 73% farmers separated their diseased duck from healthy ones. It was also found that most of the farmers (89%) buried their dead ducks under soil. Data indicated that majority of the farmers (67%) had partial idea about duck diseases. The highest proportion of the farmers (72%) followed vaccination program strictly. About 71% farmers consulted with village doctor. Nearly 51% farmers had low level of knowledge about duck farming. In the present study 10 problems were identified out of which low price of duck meat and egg made ranked as most serious problems. If the problems are addressed properly, the duck raising could be more profitable business in Bangladesh.

A study was carried out to determine the production constraints of modern varieties of potatoes and also find out the probable suggestions to overcome the constraints as verified the views between the farmers and extension officials. Data were collected from 232 farmers sampled randomly from 1547 potato growers and 51 extension officials from 153 population available from the study area of three upazila namely; Durgapur, Mohanpur and Bagmara under Rajshahi district of northwest area of Bangladesh. The study area was selected through multistage sampling procedure with continuous field observation and consultations with teachers, extension personnel, experts and contact farmers along with literatures reviewed. Thus, twenty important constraints regarding potato production were identified and possible suggestions for overcoming the constraints were suggested by using the same procedure. The importance of the constraints and the suggestions were measured by using 'Important Constraints Score Index (IPSI)' and 'Important Suggestion Index (ISSI)'. Out of 20 constraints and suggestions views of farmers and officials differed significantly for 15 items and 13 items.

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Determining the extent of adoption of modern variety potato production technologies by the potato growers was the main focus of the study. The study was conducted in the Rajshahi district. Out of 1547 potato growers, 232 respondents were randomly selected as a sample for data collection from twenty villages. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents during July 2010 to February 2011. For measuring the adoption of modern variety potato production technologies by the potato growers, 11 technologies on modern potato production were considered. Majority (46.55%) of the growers had medium adoption compared to high (29.74%) and low (23.71%) adoption. Among the extent of adoption of eleven selected technologies recommended 'irrigation' was at top highest ranking as indicated by the adoption index where as plant spacing was bottom lowest. The adoption variations in different technologies will not be improved unless effective steps are taken to increase growers' exposure to get benefits of using such technologies as per recommendations.

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