FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAPs) BY POTATO FARMERS IN BADULLA DISTRICT
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Date
2013
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Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Potato is an economically attractive crop and farmers tend to get a higher yield by adopting extensively wrong agricultural practices which are not recommended by the Department of Agriculture. From the selection of the seed tubers up to the post harvest practices, it spends a higher cost which result no significant profit. Therefore, the purpose of this research project was to find out the adoption level of GAPs and socio economic factors affecting the adoption of GAPs by the potato farmers. The study drew a sample of 100 potato farmers in Badulla District through stratified sampling technique from the four different regions and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicate that 27% of farmers had adopted well to GAPs while 40% and 33% of the farmers had adopted moderate to poor levels of adoption respectively. Good level of adoption of GAPs has increased the potato yield and income. The cost per unit has inversely affected the adoption of GAPs by potato farmers. The adoption of GAPs was positively and significantly affected by education level, farmer experience, tenure status of the land,
awareness, unit cost and unit income. Increasing the availability of quality seed tubers,
fr
availability of indebtedness to generate seeds farmer himself using echnology,
extension and awareness programs of following GAPs are recommend for potato cultivation.
Key words — Good Agricultural Practices, Adoption level, Potato Cultivation, Multiple Linear Regression
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Export Agriculture Degree Programme (EAG)