Browsing by Author "Abeysekara, A.M.W.W.N.D.B."

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    Farmers’ Perception on Transition towards Organic Paddy Cultivation: A Case Study in Matara District.
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Dayarathne, H.M.P.M.; Nanayakkara, N.I.K.; Abeysekara, A.M.W.W.N.D.B.; Sandika, A.L.
    Organic agriculture is growing at a rapid pace in response to progressively observed deterioration in the health of people and the environment. In such context, the present study is an attempt to identify farmers' perception on transition towards the organic paddy cultivation and the influences behind their perception. One hundred of paddy farmers were selected for primary data collection through multi-stage random sampling technique from four Grama Niladhari divisions in Matara District namely Welipitiya (34), Karandeniya (20), Kokmaduwa (22) and Kamburupitiya (24). The data were collected through structured interviews by farm/home visits. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential analytical tools. Results revealed that majority of the respondents (74%) have a satisfactory awareness of organic farming. About 50% of the respondents stated ancestral knowledge is the most effective method to gain knowledge regarding organic farming while, 18% of respondents stated mass media is the second best method. Among the rice varieties, Suwadel and Kuruluthudu were stated as the most suitable varieties to grow organically. Moreover, 54% of the sample was aware on the demand for organic paddy. The majority (78%) of the respondents mentioned supermarkets are the best place to sell organic products while export market and normal markets are alternative places. Further, 68% of the sample showed a positive perception to move towards organic farming. The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient explored that farmers' age, education, land area, income, and experience are the significant influences behind their perception. The study concluded that farmers' perception on organic paddy production is at a favorable level. Hence, these influencing factors could be tapped into further extension activities related to organic farming in order to foster paddy farmers towards organic farming.
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    Transition towards Production Orientation to Market Orientation: A Case Study of Organic farmers' in Kandy District
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Abeysekara, A.M.W.W.N.D.B.; Samaraweera, G.O.; Gunaratne, L.H.P.
    Commercialization has been identified as an available strategy for up-scaling the farming, where the success is largely depending upon their degree of market orientation. Though the organic farming is a demanding notion in a green economy, farmers are low profit earners comparatively to the other industries in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate the present status of market orientation of organic farmers opposed to production orientation. The study was conducted among purposively selected 40 organic farmers in Kandy district, using a Likert scale structured survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was consisted of number of production and marketing criteria and farmers' decision making in production and marketing was evaluated by the study. A score was assigned from the scale varying from 1 to 5 for both orientations. Further, regression analysis was adopted to identify the significant factors for farmers' business orientation. Findings revealed that 60% of organic farmers were culminated in production orientation without consider on being market oriented. This brings about the need for placing a greater emphasis on inculcating market oriented mind sets among farmers. Moreover, gender (G), civil status (C), land area (L) and income from organic farming (1) were identified as the significant factors influencing their decision of business orientation (MO = 64.588 - 11.635 G - 16.021 C + 5.857 L +8.388 I + 9.45181). The study recommends disseminating knowledge on market availability for organic foods towards farmers; provide adequate guidance and support for organic manure preparation as stimulus to switch the organic farmers towards market orientation. Keywords: Market orientation, Organic farming, Production orientation