The Effectiveness of Farmer Field School Approach for Dissemination of Technologies to Seed Potato Farmers in Badulla District
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Although farmers in Badulla district can gain higher income by cultivating potato compared to other
crops they have to face more challenges as the potato requires intensive and costly inputs for its
cultivation in comparison with other field crops. Thus, the main objective of this study is to
investigate the effectiveness of the Farmer Field School (FFS) Approach as an agricultural innovation
and dissemination platform for improving farmers‟ knowledge and adoption of appropriate cultural
practices and thereby improving land productivity and profitability of the seed potato cultivation. The
stratified purposive sampling technique was performed to select 40 seed potato farmers who
participated for the FFS program (considered as FFS group) conducted in four AI ranges (Perahettiya,
Halpe, Etampitiya, and Mirahawatta) in Badulla district and another 40 farmers who were not
attended for the same program [considered as NFFS Group)] and living in same locations. A cross-
sectional field survey administrating pretested structured questionnaire and focus group discussions
were undertaken to collect primary data on socio-economic status, knowledge, adoption level, yield
and cost of production, and farmers' attitude towards the FFS approach. A scoring system and 5
point Likert scales were developed to measure the above criteria and index. Descriptive analysis,
hypothesis testing, and Ordered Logistic Regression model were applied to measure variables and
explain the relationship among the tested parameters using SPSS statistical package. The result show
that there was a significant difference between FFS and NFFS seed potato growers on knowledge (t
=11.64, p < 0.000) and adoption of agricultural practices (t =7.94, p < 0.000), productivity of land (t
= 4.039, p < 0.00), and cost of production (t = -5.729, p < 0.000), and these findings reveal that FFS
group are far advanced in reference parameters compared with NFFS group. Findings of the Ordered
Logistic Regression model reveal that the model as a whole is fitted significantly (P < 0.05). R square
of the model expresses that 26.75% proportion of the variance in adoption level significantly
improved the recommended cultural practices as explained by seven independent variables
(education, experience. and indexes of social participation, group dynamic, satisfaction, and
sustainability). The findings of this study proved that FFS approach is as an agricultural innovation
and dissemination platform for improving farmers‟ knowledge and changing their attitude on
adoption of appropriate cultivation practices, and thereby improving land productivity and
profitability, and living standard of self-seed potato farmers in Badulla district.
Keywords: Badulla District; Effectiveness; Farmer Field School; Seed potato
Description
Keywords
Agriculture, Vegetable Cultivation, Crop Production, Crop Production Technology