Relationship Between Personal/Mass Media and Practical Control of Smut Disease of Cane Farmer in Agro-economic Zone 7 for Yield Improvement.

Abstract

Smut disease of sugarcane has been very well known for 30 years. This disease causes reduction of cane yield. So far, this disease can be found almost everywhere. This study was conducted to find out whether the farmer has basic knowledge or practical control of smut disease, the relationship of the cane farmers and personal/mass media, the problem of the cane farmers and their requirements. The result showed that most of the cane famer at amphor Samchug and amphor Danchang in Suphanburi province have their own land less than 25 rais. Sugarcane in these area are 2nd and 3rd year ratoon cane more than newly planted cane. Most of the farmers are 30-60 years old and their education mainly in primary school. The farmers whose their sugarcane have ever been infected by smut disease (88.4%), lack of knowledge about the disease and the correct method of the practical control. It can be suggested that both government and other organization should be alert to transfer the basic knowledge and the practical control techniques to the farmers. It was also found that the high efficiency of transferring of knowledge is by individual contact, group contact or by agricultural radio/TV program.