Evaluation of awareness levels on improved radish production practices in eastern Uttar Pradesh

This study aimed to evaluate the awareness levels of farmers regarding improved radish production practices in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The study focused on two blocks, Kerakat and Dobhi, selected for their higher concentration of radish farmers. A total of 10 villages were randomly chosen from these blocks, and 150 radish growers were selected using stratified random sampling. A structured schedule was used to measure the awareness level. Responses were recorded on a five-point scale, and total awareness scores were calculated for each respondent. The findings revealed varied awareness levels among farmers. A significant portion of farmers demonstrated a good understanding of practices like selecting high-yielding varieties (48.67%), proper soil preparation (48%), and sowing in cooler months (45.33%). However, critical areas such as pest and disease management, seed treatment, and post-harvest handling exhibited substantial knowledge gaps, with 41.33% of farmers not consistently monitoring pests, 34.66% neglecting seed treatment. The classification of overall awareness level revealed that 47.34% of respondents fell into the Medium category, 37.33% were in the Low category, and 15.33% were in the High category, indicating a moderate overall awareness level among farmers. A positive correlation was found between education, scientific orientation, risk orientation, and extension contact with awareness.