Factors Influencing the Adaptation to Fully Organic Vegetable Farming: A Farmer Perception Study in Polonnaruwa District,  Sri Lanka

Abstract

In recent times, the Sri Lankan government's agricultural policy has shifted rapidly from inorganic to organic farming. As a result, organic farming has become a debatable and timely valuable topic in Sri Lanka. Organic farming is an agricultural farming method that applies environmentally friendly pest and weed control mechanisms and fertilizers derived primarily from animal and plant wastes, as well as nitrogen-fixing cover crops. This study focused on analysing how farmers’ general attitudes, behavioural beliefs, favourable attitudes toward fully organic farming, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence the adaptation to fully organic vegetable farming in Polonnaruwa district. A questionnaire survey was conducted by face-to-face interviews to gather primary data from a randomly selected sample of 300 farmers from the vegetable sector in the Polonnaruwa district. The data were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis through AMOS in the SPSS 24 version. The results revealed that the farmers’ perceptions of the adaptation to fully organic vegetable farming are significantly and negatively influenced by general attitudes, behavioural beliefs, favourable attitudes towards fully organic farming, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control among farmers in the Polonnaruwa district. Findings are important for policymakers and relevant organizations when implementing the agriculture policy in the country.