International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Ravathi Ajay, Nanditha Pavithran, Vanita Choudhary and Gurshaminder Singh

abstract
India's agriculture sector, which accounts for 20% of the country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product), is crucial for socioeconomic growth. A study in five villages in SAS Nagar, Mohali, focuses on the socioeconomic dynamics of farming communities and the role of multimedia technologies in promoting sustainable practices and agricultural knowledge. The study emphasizes the importance of staple crops like sugarcane in fostering economic prosperity and food security, and the need for evidence-based solutions to pest infestation. A video-questionnaire survey was used to increase farmer awareness of sugarcane cultivation. Common pests, such as termites, gurdaspur borer, black bug, Pyrilla, early shoot borer, and Pyrilla, significantly affect sugarcane yield and quality. Effective pest management strategies, including chemical, biological, and cultural approaches, are necessary to reduce risks and ensure sustained sugarcane production. The main goal is to educate farmers about and control these pests.