I. INTRODUCTION

In Bangladesh, livestock is one of the most potential sub-sectors of agriculture which plays an indispensable role in promoting human health and national economy of the country. Based on the dairy cattle population, Bangladesh has secured 15th position among the top dairy cattle populated countries in the world (FAO, 2012). Dairy sector provides to nearly the triple benefits of nutritive food, supplementary income and productive labor to farm families (Singh R.V 2002).

Livestock production systems in our country have been mostly primitive and unorganized. Over 70% of the milk produced in our country is by landless small and marginal farmers who own one or two animals. Dairying definitely offers itself as a prospective farm diversification means with immense commercial potential (Balaraman, 2004). It can be easily assumed that with the increase in the adoption of improved dairy practices the per capita availability of milk will increase. This undoubtedly requires change the attitude of farmers towards adopting improved dairy practices to get maximum profit. It is also required to speed of knowledge dissemination and adoption by dairy entrepreneurs (A.K. Singh, 2000).large attitude of dairy farmer forms and essential end for the better implementation and success of dairy development programme. Keeping this in view an attempt was made to ascertain the level of attitude 'of farmers towards improved dairy practices (Suresh, 2004). It is as above context; study was planned to investigate the exiting level of knowledge and attitude of dairy farmers towards improved of dairy practices of these milk producers will help to planner and dairy development agencies which can make positive effort in the development of dairy enterprise. The present study was, therefore, designed to know the socio-economic and psychological attributes of the selected dairy farmers. and to determine the level of knowledge towards improved dairy practices of selected dairy farmers.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was led at Mohammadpur, keraniganj, Jatrabari, Mirpur & Savar Thana under Dhaka district. These Thana's were purposively selected. This was because Dairy farmers more in this area than other area. Sample of The dairy farmers under selected five Thana's were considered as the population of the study. The total sample size stood at 58. Moreover, a reserved list of 7 dairy farmers was prepared for use when the dairy farmers under sample were not available during data collection. The dairy farmers under selected five Thana's were considered as the population of the study. A list of dairy farmers who are currently producing milk was prepared with the help of Department of livestock services and its field staffs. The number of dairy farmers of the selected five Thana's was 182 which constituted the population of the study.

About 30 percent of the population was selected proportionally from the selected Thana's as the sample by following random sampling method. Thus, the total sample size stood at 58. Moreover, a reserved list of 7 dairy farmers was prepared for use when the dairy farmers under sample were not available during data collection.

For the purpose of data collection, a semi-structured interview schedule was used. It was prepared keeping the objectives of the study in mind. The interview schedule contained both open and closed form questions. Direct and simple questions and statements were included in the schedule to collect data on the selected dependent and independent variables. Data were collected through personal interviewing by the researcher herself through face to face interview. The study was purposively conducted in the Dhaka district of Bangladesh. Before starting collection of data, the researchers met with department of livestock services (DLS) in order to explain the objectives of the study and requested them to provide necessary help and co-operation in collection of data. As a result, there was no problem to collect data. The researcher made all possible efforts to establish rapport with the respondents so that they could feel comfortable to the questions which contained in the schedule. All possible efforts were made to explain the purpose of the study to the respondents and their answers were recorded sincerely. Collection of data took 90 days from 5 May to 5 August 2019.

The different characteristics of the dairy farmers might have impact on their knowledge and attitude towards dairy farm practices. These characteristics were like age, education, land holding, annual income, Organizational participation, Training received, Extension contact, Cosmopoliteness, Herd size, Annual recurring expenditure, Milk production, problem faced for dairy farming were the main center of the study. Measurement of all the factors of the dairy farmers and their knowledge and attitude towards dairy farming are discussed in the following sub sections:

a) Age

It refers to the chronological age of the respondents (in years) rounded to the nearest whole number at the time of interview. It was ascertained by direct questioning and a unit score was given to each year. Age of a respondent was measured in terms of years from birth to the time of interview which was found on the basis of response (Adnan, 2016).

b) Statistical Analysis

The data were analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study. Qualitative data were converted into quantitative data by means of suitable scoring technique wherever necessary. The statistical measures such as range, means, standard deviation, number and percentage distribution were used to describe the variables. Initially, Pearson's Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation (r) was used in order to explore the relationships between the concerned variables. One percent (0.01) level of probability and five percent (0.05) level of probability were the basis for rejecting any null hypothesis throughout the study. The SPSS computer package was used to perform all these process

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The purpose of this section is to explore the relationships of the selected characteristics of the dairy farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Pearson's Product Moment co-efficient of correlation (r) was used to test a null hypothesis concerning the relation between any two variables. Five percent (0.05) and one percent (0.01) level of probability was used as the basis for rejection of a null hypothesis. Results of the test of co-efficient of correlation between each of the selected characteristics of the farmers and their knowledge on farming are shown in table 4.16.

a) Relation between age and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between age of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farm was found to be.309 (table 1). The findings indicated that the age of the dairy farmers was insignificant. So, there is no relationship of age of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Roy (2006) found that age of the farmer had no significant relationship with their knowledge on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Anu (2016), Monalesa (2014), Khan (2005), Islam (2005) and Rahman (2004) in their respective studies.

b) Relation between education level and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between education level of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.683** (table 1). Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that education of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is a positive relationship of education of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Rahman (2015) and Monalesa (2014) in their respective studies.

c) Relation between land holding and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between farm size of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was.057 (table 1). Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that of the dairy farmers was negatively insignificant. So, there is no relationship of land holding of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Monalesa (2014) & Chowdhury (2014) in their respective studies.

d) Relation between annual income and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between annual income of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was 535** (table 1). The findings indicated that the annual income of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is positive relationship of annual income of the farmers with their knowledge towards dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Rabby (2014) & Amin (2006) in their respective studies.

e) Relation between organizational participation and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between organization participation of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was 0.687** (table 1). The findings indicated that the organization participation of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of organizational participation of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming.

f) Relation between Training received and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between Training received of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.814** (table 1). The findings indicated that the Training received of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of organization participation of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming.

g) Relation between extension media contact and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between extension media contact of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.898** (table 1). The findings indicated that the extension media contact of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is positive relationship of extension media contact of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Anu (2016), Rahman (2015), Monalesa (2014) and Chowdhury (2014) in their respective studies.

h) Relation between cosmopoliteness and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between cosmopoliteness of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.523** (table 1). The findings indicated that the cosmopoliteness of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of cosmopoliteness of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming.

i) Relation between Herd size and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between herd size of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.530** (table 1). Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that herd size of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is a positive relationship of herd size of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Monalesa (2014) & Chowdhury (2014) in their respective studies.

j) Relation between Annual recurring expenditure and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between Annual recurring expenditure of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.539** (table 1). The findings indicated that the Annual recurring expenditure of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of Annual recurring expenditure of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming.

k) Relation between Milk production and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between Milk production of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be 0.177 (table 1). The findings indicated that the Milk production of the dairy farmers was insignificant. So, there is no relationship of Milk production of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming.

i) Relation between problems faced for dairy farming and knowledge of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation problem faced for dairy farming of the farmers and their knowledge on dairy farming was found to be -0.299*(table 1).The findings indicated that problem faced for dairy farming of the dairy farmers was negatively significant. So, there is negative relationship of problem faced for dairy farming of the farmers with their knowledge on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Rahman (2015) and Monalesa (2014) in their respective studies.

j) Relationship between the selected characteristics of the respondents and their attitude towards dairy farming

To examine the relationship of the nine selected characteristics of the respondents with their attitude towards dairy farming was the purpose of this section. The twelve selected characteristics were: age, education, land holding, annual income, Organizational participation, Training received, Extension contact, Cosmopoliteness, Herd size, Annual recurring expenditure, Milk production, and problem faced for dairy farming. These nine selected characteristics were the independent variables while attitude towards tobacco cultivation was the dependent variable of this study.

Pearsons product moment correlation coefficient (r) has been used to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the respondents with their attitude towards dairy farming. Five percent (0.05%) and one percent (0.01%) level of probability was used as the basis for rejection of a null hypothesis. Results of the test of co-efficient of correlation between each of the selected characteristics of the farmers and their attitude towards dairy farming are shown in table 4.17.

k) Relation between age and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between age of the farmers and their attitude towards dairy farming was found to be.328* (table 2). The findings indicated that the age of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of age of the farmers with their attitude towards dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Monalesa (2014) and Amin (2006) in their respective studies.

l) Relation between education and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between education of the farmers and their attitude towards dairy farming was found to be 0.545** (table 2). The findings indicated that the education of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is positive relationship of education of the farmers with their attitude towards dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Rahman (2015) in his study.

m) Relation between land holding and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between farm size of the farmers and their attitude towards dairy farming was found to be -.065 (table 3). The findings indicated that the farm size of the dairy farmers was negatively significant. So, there is no relationship of land size of the farmers with their attitude towards dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Monalesa (2014), Rabby (2014) and Amin (2006) in their respective studies.

n) Relation between annual income and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between annual income of the farmers and their attitude towards dairy farming was found to be.639** (table 2). The findings indicated that the annual income of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is positive relationship of annual income of the farmers with their attitude towards dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Rabby (2014) & Amin (2006) in their respective studies.

o) Relation between organizational participation and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between organization participation of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.700** (table 2). The findings indicated that the organization participation of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of organization participation of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming.

p) Relation between Training received and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between organization participation of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.702** (table 2). The findings indicated that the organization participation of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of organization participation of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming.

q) Relation between extension media contact and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between extension media contact of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.802** (table 2). The findings indicated that the extension media contact of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is positive relationship of extension media contact of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Anu (2016), Rahman (2015), Monalesa (2014) and Chowdhury (2014) in their respective studies.

r) Relation between cosmopoliteness and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between cosmopoliteness of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.493** (table 2). The findings indicated that the cosmopoliteness of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of cosmopoliteness of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming.

s) Relation between Herd size and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between farm size of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.464** (table 2). Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that farm size of the dairy farmers was positively significant. So, there is a positive relationship of herd size of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Monalesa (2014) & Chowdhury (2014) in their respective studies.

t) Relation between Annual recurring expenditure and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between Annual recurring expenditure of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.523* (table 2). The findings indicated that the Annual recurring expenditure of the dairy farmers was significant. So, there is positive relationship of Annual recurring expenditure of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming.

u) Relation between Milk production and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation between Milk production of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was found to be 0.124 (table 2). The findings indicated that the Milk production of the dairy farmers was insignificant. So, there is no relationship of

Milk production of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming.

v) Relation between problems faced for dairy farming and attitude of the farmers towards dairy farming

Computed value of the co-efficient of correlation problem faced for dairy farming of the farmers and their attitude on dairy farming was 0.222 (table 2). The findings indicated that problem faced for dairy farming of the dairy farmers was negatively significant. So, there is negative relationship of problem faced for dairy farming of the farmers with their attitude on dairy farming. Similar result was observed by Rahman (2015) and Monalesa (2014) in their respective studies.

IV. CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the farmers had significant positive relationship with their education, annual income, organization participation, training received, cosmopoliteness, herd size, annual recurring expenditure. While knowledge of the farmers had negatively significant with their dairy farming problem. Therefore, it may be concluded that it would be a wishful thinking to improve the overall situation of knowledge by taking care of the factors related to the increase of knowledge among the farmers.