Buying behaviour, usage pattern and constraints of sesame growers for insecticides in Gujarat

This empirical investigation, utilizing the published theoretical literature and descriptive cross-sectional research design, examines the buying behaviour, usage pattern and constraints for insecticides among the sesame growers. The study was conducted in the purposively selected Rajkot district of Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. The research involved a structured survey of 200 sesame growing farmers selected across four talukas - Jasdan, Vinchhiya, Gondal, and Kotada Sangani - using a multistage random sampling approach and surveyed using a structured interview schedule. The objectives were to analyse farmers’ socio-economic profiles, insecticide purchasing behaviour, application practices, and the constraints faced during procurement. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers were male, aged between 31-40 years, with education levels ranging from below SSC to HSC. Most respondents were small and semi-medium farmers, holding less than 4 hectares of land, with farming experience of over 20 years and an annual income between ?1,00,000 to ?5,00,000. Insecticides were mostly purchased from local dealers, with decisions influenced by past experience, dealer recommendations, and progressive farmers' opinions. Farmers preferred packaging sizes of 250 ml and 500 ml and applied insecticides primarily in the early morning hours. Key challenges included high prices, limited access to preferred brands during peak seasons, and insufficient technical guidance. The study recommends improving dealer engagement, offering insecticides on credit, organizing farmer field demonstrations, and simplifying promotional materials in regional languages to support better-informed and safer insecticide use in sesame farming.