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Communication Analysis of the Utilization of Cotton Integrated Pest Management Technology in the Philippines
Dissertation Abstract:
In the Philippines, one of the reasons for producing low seed-cotton yields is poor pest management. While an integrated pest management (IPM) technology on cotton is recommended, it has not been fully adopted.
On the premise that communication is among the many factors that can spell the successful implementation of an innovation, this study was conceptualized and conducted. It sought to gain insights into and understanding of the communication dynamics in the dissemination and use of the cotton IPM technology in the Philippines. It also aimed to identify dissemination and use problems, and determine the socioeconomic and communication variables that influence the level of technology use.
Respondents of the study were 318 cotton farmers, 37 cotton researchers, and 22 cotton extension workers representing the farmer-client, research and extension subsystems, respectively.
Results showed an interactive communication situation between and among the members of the cotton knowledge and information system. The interpersonal channel was a more popular medium of information exchange due to the dearth of print and broadcast materials. However, cotton farmer-respondents identified the cotton researcher as the more accessible and credible source of information about cotton IPM technology.
Twelve linkage mechanisms were carried out as part of the technology transfer process. These were farmers' meetings, farmers' training, training for agricultural technologists, research reviews, technology consultations, farm visits. field days and tours, market matching, loan acquisition assistance, technology verification and demonstration trials, and communication materials production.
Cotton fanner-respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about the cotton IPM technology. This was significantly affected by education, language and literacy, size of cotton farm, income, indigenous knowledge of pest control, organizational affiliation and position held in the organization, mass media and interpersonal contact, and attitude toward environmental conservation.
The level of cotton IPM technology was Iikewise moderate. Five variables. namely: knowledge of the technology, attitude toward the technology delivery channels, acquaintance with the agricultural technologist, communication with the cotton research specialist, and organizational affiliation, significantly contributed to the variation in the level of tech nology use. Likewise, the level of! PM technology use significantly influenced the level of seedcotton productivity.
Identified bottlenecks in the dissemination of cotton IP technology were lack of mobility, inadequate funds for travel and training, lack of enough print materials for distribution to cotton farmers, unavailability of resources, and lack of competence about cotton production on the part of the agricultural technologist. Farmers' use was also constrained by inadequate information about the technology, unavailability of resources, inadequate production loan, and delayed loan releases owing to untimely submission of loan requirements.