Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the application of integrated pest management (IPM) practices by paddy farmers. The statistical population consisted of paddy farmers in Sari county of Mazandaran province, Iran. A sample of 260 farmers was selected by using proportional random sampling method. Data were collected by use of a questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was established by agricultural Jihad exports of Sari county and some faculty members at the University of Tehran. Cronbach’s alpha was used to estimate the reliability. The reliability was found to be acceptable. The results revealed that educational level, participation in extension-education courses, attitude toward IPM practices and income were some factors correlated with the extent of IPM practices application by paddy farmers. Regression analysis indicated that about 68.5% of the variation in the extent of IPM practices application by paddy farmers could be explained by variables consisting level of knowledge toward IPM practices, farm income from rice production, level of perception toward IPM practices, participation in extension-education courses, level of communication channels usage and production yield.

Key words: Integrated pest management (IPM), paddy farmers, technology, application, attitude.