Barriers to Use of Biological Control in Rice Farms of Sari County (Case of Trichogramma spp to Control Stem Borer)

Pest biological control is identified as key strategies for Integrated Pest Management. This study aimed to assess barriers of pest biological control in rice farms. Data were gathered by survey techniques through questionnaire. Subjects for this study were rice growers who used pest biological control programs in 14 villages of Sari County in 2013. Using Cochran formula and cluster random sampling method with optimizes allocation 138 farmers were selected as sample of this research. Face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts of Agri-Jihad management of Sari County and some faculty members. The reliability of main scale of questionnaire (barriers to use of biological control) verified based on calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.79. The results revealed that farmers perceived the supportive and extension problems such “tack of timely delivery of Trichogramma spp”, “lack of coordination between extension department and plant protection departments” and lack of skill such “difficulties to obtain of fly peak for butterfly” as the main barriers. The results of factor analysis showed that the “inadequate of supportive and extension services”, “inadequate technical facilities”, “skill problems” and “climate incompatibility” explained 71.04% variance related to barriers to use of biological pest control. The results of comparative tests showed that variables such: gender, age, farming experience, education, land size, farm income, non-farm employment, membership in rural institution, participation in extension program as well as continues trend in adoption of biological control were found to be the major factors affecting the farmers perceived biological pest control barriers.