Social and economic factors for the adoption of biological control of <i>Bracon</i> parasitoid on corn <i>Caradrina</i> in Dezful Township, Khouzestan Province, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the social and economic factors involved in the adoption of the  biological control of Bracon parasitoid on corn Caradrina in Dezful Township, Khouzestan province, Iran. The  method of research was causal comparative. A random sample of corn farmers from Dezful Township of  Khouzestan province, Iran (n=350) was selected for participation in this study. A questionnaire was developed to gather information regarding the adopted biological control of Caradrina by Braconidae in corn farms located in Dezful Township of Khouzestan province. The results of the t-test showed that there is a significant  difference between level of education, income, crop yield, farm size, mechanization level and participation in extension classes by adopters and non-adopters of biological control. The Mann Whitney U test (MW) showed significant differences between farmers’ awareness, attitude and access to information of adopters and  non-adopters. Regression model indicated that the overall predictive power of the model (72.7%) is quite high, while the significant Chi square (p<0.05) is indicative of the strength of the joint effect of the covariates on the probability of adoption among farmers in the zone. The results also showed that the decision on the application of biological control is determined by the educational level, income, mechanization level, extension activities, biological control awareness, social participation, attitude toward biological control and access to information sources which have significant influence.

Key words: Adoption, Caradrina, Braconidae, corn farmers.