Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Farmers Regarding Yellow Mosaic Virus Management of Pumpkin at Dumuria Upazila in Khulna District

Abstract

Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) of pumpkin causes major crop yield losses and adversely affects pumpkin production. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of farmers regarding Yellow Mosaic Virus of pumpkin. Data were collected from 60 randomly selected pumpkin farmers through face-to-face interviews in Dumuria Upazila of Khulna District using a pre-tested interview schedule during 20–25 November 2022. The study revealed that about three-fourths (70%) of the respondents had a medium level of knowledge, while one-fourth (25%) had a low level of knowledge and only a few (5%) had a high level of knowledge regarding Yellow Mosaic Virus of pumpkin. The majority (58.3%) of the respondents had a favorable attitude toward the management of Yellow Mosaic Virus, while 20% had a highly favorable attitude and 18.3% had a neutral attitude. Regarding management practices, the majority (51.7%) of the respondents adopted management practices to a medium extent, while 41.7% adopted practices to a high extent and only 6.7% adopted practices to a low extent. Among the ten selected characteristics of the respondents, education (r = 0.294*), farming experience (r = 0.258*), and organizational participation (r = 0.379**) showed a significant positive relationship with their knowledge regarding pumpkin Yellow Mosaic Virus disease. Education (r = 0.274*) showed a significant positive relationship with attitude, whereas farm size (r = –0.257*) and annual income (r = –0.403**) showed significant negative relationships with attitude. Annual income (r = –0.353**) also showed a significant negative relationship with farmers’ management practices regarding pumpkin Yellow Mosaic Virus disease. Age, pumpkin farming experience, family size, training, and extension media contact showed no significant relationship with farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices.