USE OF IMPROVED PRACTICES IN STRAWBERRY CULTIVATION BY THE FARMERS IN SELECTED AREA OF BANGLADESH

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent use of improved practices in strawberry cultivation by the strawberry farmers and also to explore the relationships between ten characteristics of the strawberry farmers and their extent of use of improved practices in strawberry cultivation. The selected characteristics were age, level of education, farm size, strawberry cultivation area, annual family income, income from strawberry cultivation, training exposure, extension contact, strawberry cultivation experience and problem faced in strawberry cultivation. Data were collected from 113 strawberry farmers from two villages of Yusufpur union of Charghatupazila under Rajshahi district by using an interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, range and percentage were used to describe the variables under consideration. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was chosen as data analysis method. Majority (69.9%) of the strawberry farmers had medium use of improved practices, while 17.7 percent farmers had high use and 12.4 percent farmers had low use of improved practices in strawberry cultivation. Annual income from strawberry cultivation and extension contact had significant positive relationship with their use of improved practices in strawberry cultivation and problem faced had significant negative relationship with their use of improved practices in strawberry cultivation.