Farmers’ Awareness of Improved Maize Cropping Practices in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Study was aimed to assess awareness of improved maize cropping practices among maize farmers. The data was collected by using simple random sampling and 120 maize farmers were involved in the study. A structured interview was used for Personal interview. The study revealed that 84.2% of the farmers were aware of improved maize cropping practices. The farmers who had been to college and higher education, large scale farmers and farmers who were visiting extension department were aware of improved maize practices. The significa nt difference was found regarding overall awareness among farmer's groups including farmers who had been to college and higher education and who had been to high school or less than high school, farmers who were visiting extension department and who were not visiting extension department, small-and large-scale farmers (0.00, P> .001). Practice-wise only seed treatment, weedicide and harvesting methods did not show significant differences. The college and higher education, large scale farmers and visit to extension department were the determinants of awareness among farmers. The government should implement extension trainings and awareness programs to create awareness among small scale farmers and farmers and who had high school education or less than high school and farmers who were not visiting extension department.