Exploring the Association of Socio-Economic Factors with Knowledge of Eco-Friendly Farming Practices among Vegetable Growers in Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Eco-friendly terms used to describe products and services that have minimal or no negative impact on the environment. Eco-friendly farming focuses on natural food production, avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms. The goal of eco-friendly farming is to ensure zero environmental impact. This study was conducted in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh, covering three blocks and twelve villages. A total of 240 vegetable farmers were selected for the study. The findings show that the majority of respondents (67.08%) had moderate knowledge of eco-friendly vegetable cultivation practices. The knowledge of various crop management practices was ranked based on their mean scores. Cultural pest management practices had the highest mean score (6.36), indicating strong effectiveness or preference, while seed treatment had the lowest score of 1.87, suggesting it was less favoured or effective compared to the other practices. The study also found that various factors, including age, education, farming experience, and extension participation, were significantly associated with farmers' knowledge of eco-friendly practices.