Weed control practices adopted by lowland rice farmers in Laguna and Camarines Sur [Philippines]

Results of the study revealed the following: 1. The socio-economic and demographic profile of farmers in Laguna and Camarines Sur are as follows: Age (generally in the slightly old age category), educational attainment (barely elementary graduates), farming experience (with long years of farming experience), farm size (tills relatively smaller rice farms), credit sources (generally do not have formal and informal credit source), tenurial status (majority do not own the land they till). Production level (generally have higher production during the dry than wet season), irrigation source (have adequate irrigation water), and sources of agricultural information (generally obtain agricultural information with frequent contacts with technicians, radio and printed materials); 2. Majority of the farmers practised the recommended weed control practices. Some farmers tend to use the recommended herbicide less or even more than the required amount. Few others failed to use it at the appropriate time of application; 3. Age, educational attainment, farm size, sources of credit, irrigation sources, tenurial status, production level and frequency of contact with extension workers are factors that influence farmers' adoption of the practice; 4. The farmers' major criteria for adoption of the specific weed control practice include effectiveness, economy and practicality; 5. The farmers' socio-demographic characteristics such as length of farming experience, formal credit source, level of production and frequency experience, formal credit source, level of production and frequency of contact with extension workers were the factors with significant relationship with their adoption of the recommended weed control practices; and 6. The farmers major problem encountered in the adoption of the recommended weed control practices are lack of adequate knowledge on the practice (particularly those using herbicides), limited cash to meet the increasing cost which the recommendation requires, ineffectiveness of the practice, limited credit accessibility and less frequent contacts with extension workers