Impact of village level education and training on adoption of control strategies, their sustainability and reduction in crop losses

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of village level education and training on adoption of control strategies, their sustainability and reduction in crop losses in Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts of Punjab, India. Three villages selected in each district were categorized as (i) Maintenance area (ii) Neglected area, and (iii) Survey area. In maintenance area, proper education and training was imparted to farmers along with free distribution of rodenticide baits. Similar activities were done in neglected area but rodenticide baits were not distributed among the farmers. The survey area was kept as reference area where neither education was provided nor were the rodenticide baits distributed. KAP survey of farmers before imparting education in Rabi season (wheat crop period) revealed that the rodent control practices being used by the farmers were quite similar across villages. Farmers were often found adopting incorrect methods of poison bait preparation and application. Survey of farmers during subsequent Kharif season (rice crop period) revealed the sustainability of knowledge already imparted during wheat crop period. Impact assessment revealed higher reduction in rodent infestation, damage and yield loss due to rodents in maintenance and neglected villages compared to survey areas indicating timely education and training of farmers to be the important key factors responsible for the success of a rodent control programme.