author(s)
Neelam Yadav, Neerja Agrawal and Renu Yadav

abstract
Surveys were carried out in eight villages of Dehradun and Haridwar district, Uttarakhand in 2016-2017 to investigate the farmer’s perceptions and management practices of insect pests of mustard crops. Surveys involving 160 farmers belonging to four villages (Doiwala, Mazra, Rajpura and Kaulagarh) and (Motichoor, Bhoopatwala, Kangrai and Ranipur) Dehradun and Haridwar respectively to collect information on the farmers perception, knowledge and practices related to mustard crops. Data were collected through a survey using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Information on farmer’s knowledge and pest management practices as well as aspects related to belief and attitudes governing their pest management decision making was analyzed. The results revealed that the 77.5 per cent of the farmers were aware about pesticidal hazards in the cultivation of mustard crops. The knowledge of pest and pest enemies was recorded in 76.25 per cent and 71.25 per cent farmers respectively. 86.25 per cent of respondents were aware about non pesticidal management and some farmers (35 per cent) aware about the use of biopesticides. So farmers strong belief in the role of beneficial insects, their awareness and effect of pesticides on human health and non- target organisms. Therefore, farmers of both districts were not more educated but they knew about the health hazards caused by pesticides and its ill effects. All age groups members were engaged in farming because their economy was totally dependent on their farm holding.