Determinant Factors of Farmers’ Performance Regarding Fertilizer Application: An Overview from Bangladesh

Abstract

Aims: Farmers of Bangladesh use a less amount of urea fertilizer compared to the nutrient requirement and soil fertility status.  Hence, a significant gap between actual and recommended doses of fertilizers used by farmers have been reported in many instances. Therefore, this study assessed farmers’ performance towards fertilizer application, and explored the contribution of selected characteristics on that performance. Study Design: This study employed a cross-sectional survey method using a correlational and descriptive research design. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in twenty-one villages of Gaibandha district in Bangladesh during 17 July, 2017 to 20 September, 2017. Methodology: A total of 355 farmers were selected as sample using multistage random sampling. Data, collected using structured questionnaire, were subjected to descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression for describing the level of selected variables, their relationships and their contributions on farmers’ performance, respectively. Results: Most (45.9%) of the farmers had high level of performance regarding fertilizer application. Farmers’ age, household size, educational level, farm size, training received, extension media contact, knowledge and attitudes of farmers had positive and significant relationship with their fertilizer application performance. Regression model explained 45.3% of variance of farmers’ performance where age, household size, farm size, training received, extension media contact, knowledge and attitudes of farmers were found significant predictors of farmers’ fertilizer application performance. Knowledge was found to be the most contributing factor followed by age and training received. Conclusion: The study concludes with recommendations that are expected to improving fertilizers application scenario of Bangladesh.