Farmers’ willingness to use innovative indigenous technical knowledge for plant protection in major crop zones of Bangladesh

The article assessed the farmers’ willingness to use selected innovative crop protection Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK). Regarding these, data were collected from purposively selected 150 farmers from12 villages of Jessore, Bogra and Comilla districts through a structured interview schedule. It was found that about seventy percent (68.67%) of farmers are willing to use innovative ITKs. However, their awareness was high on ordinary and easy ITKs. Farmers were willing to use ITKs because these are safe for man and crops, low cost and use available local resources. Those who were unwilling to use ITKs (31.33%) found them unknown, lack confidence on performance and difficult in use. Farm size (B= -6.186, p=.015), annual family income (B= -.042, p=.003), information need (B=.194, p=.001) and awareness on ITKs (B=-11.664, p=.000) found the important determinant for shaping farmers’ willingness to use innovative crop protection ITKs. Therefore, state extension should promote ITKs for smallholder farmers with sufficient information delivery program and extensive awareness building campaign.