Why Younger Generation Reluctant to Continue with Farming? A Case Study in Huruluwewa Modern Colonization Scheme
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Modern agricultural colonization schemes were introduced to the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka
to achieve the country’s food self-sufficiency. However, less interest in young farmers to
continue with farming has become a major issue in these schemes. Therefore, this study
attempted to identify the reasons for the young generation in the colonization schemes in
Sri Lanka to be less interested in continuing with farming, by testing
the Huruluwewa Colonization Scheme in the North Central Province as a case. Primary
data were collected through the field survey which covered 155 farm households by
employing a random sampling method. Descriptive and inferential analytical methods
were used to analyze the collected data. The economic factor analysis indicated that yield
and price risk of farming are the critical factors that affect farming income. The specific
concern of the farmers in the scheme is drought and thereby the water management
issues. Less profitability of farming systems in the scheme was another economic reason
for the lack of interest of young in farming. This was mainly due to the absence of
innovativeness in farming or less ability of the farmers to think out of the box as most
farmers traditionally grow rice the same as the first generation did at the establishment of
the scheme. Analyzing the social factors indicated less social recognition of farming is the
main reason for the younger generation’s decision to quit farming. The root causes here
were the economic and social stagnation or less or slow transformation of these
communities for many decades. This has created multiplier effects on the second and
third generation of the scheme in terms of societal, for instance, out-migration (both
temporary and permanent), social issues in terms of marrying, crimes, and drug
addictions. The selected progressive farmer cases revealed that they are innovative
farmers who think beyond the traditional farming system in the scheme, with
entrepreneurial freedom for farming.
Keywords: Colonization Scheme, Farming, Huruluwewa, Less interest, Socio-economic
factors
Description
Keywords
Agriculture, Marketing, Social Science, Financial Management