An empirical study on pesticide buying behaviour among paddy growers in Raipur District, Chhattisgarh

The study investigates the buying preferences of paddy growers with respect to pesticide brands in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. A sample of 174 farmers was selected through multistage random sampling from 10 villages of Arang and Dharsiwa blocks during the agricultural year 2022-2023. Primary data were collected using structured interviews, and percentage analysis was applied for interpretation. The findings indicate that local retailers (41.38%) and dealers (27.58%) are the primary suppliers of pesticides. Dealer recommendations (37.36%) and brand recognition (21.84%) emerged as the most influential factors guiding farmers’ purchasing decisions, followed by past personal experience (17.24%) and peer farmer advice (13.79%). Among pesticide brands, UPL (16.09%) ranked first in preference, followed by Syngenta (13.79%) and Bayer Crop Science (12.64%). The results highlight the pivotal role of intermediaries in shaping brand choices, with farmers exhibiting strong reliance on localized sources of trust and familiarity. Strengthening the retailer-dealer network and promoting awareness about product authenticity can enhance informed decision-making among farmers.