H.BasavarajaUdaykumar V.Hosamani2016-11-022016-11-022009http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/83456The excesses use of the pesticides in the agriculture has not only increased production costs but also led to ill effects of pesticide use. The present study attempted to analyse economic consequences of pesticides use in paddy in Koppal district of Karnataka. The study was based on the primary data obtained from 120 randomly selected farmers growing paddy spread across two taluks of Koppal district. Multiple log linear regression was used to compute the plant protection chemicals expenditure elasticity. The total cost of cultivation of paddy was found to be Rs 65591.53/ha of which the cost of pesticide accounted for 5.50 per cent. On an average the expenditure on pesticides in paddy cultivation was Rs. 3607.57/ha. The yield obtained by the sample farmers was 66.90 quintals. The farmers realized net returns of Rs. 17145.14/ha of paddy cultivation. The elasticity coefficient of labour and manures and fertilizers were negative and significant indicating that increase in the use of labour, fertilizers and manures would lead to decrease in gross income. The resources such as seeds and pesticides have contributed positively to the gross income thus, indicated that there is scope for re-organization of the inputs for profit maximization. About 50% of the farmers applied pesticides five times for paddy during its production cycle. The number of pesticide application went up to even seven times. The optimum quantity of pesticide was estimated to be 0.97 l/ha, where as the farmers were found to be use (1.95 liter/ha) almost double the optimum quantity. Number of pesticide applications and area under paddy were contributing positively and significantly to the expenditure on plant protection chemicals. The farmers should be educated to identify the threshold level of pest infestation and take measures only after that instead of blindly following the neighboring farmers while applying plant protection chemicals.Agricultural EconomicsThesis