Abstract:
The study assesses the effectiveness of the sustainable farming practices adopted by
vegetable farmers in the Batticaloa district, with a focus on three Grama Niladhari
(GN) divisions of Kaluthawali, Mangadu, and Chetipalayam. Data were collected
through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed
using IBM SPSS 27 statistical software. Farmers in this region mostly have one acre
or less than one acre of land, and they mainly grow green chilies, brinjal, okra, cluster
beans, and yard-long beans. Most of the farmers produce their seeds for the next
cultivation, and intercropping techniques are also used extensively in this area. They
use groundwater for irrigation purposes and spend a significant amount oftime on their
farmland. They rely on government-supplied electricity as the power source and usage
of solar power for cultivation purpose is negligible. Most of the farmers make
decisions for adapting sustainable practices based on economic factors. Farmers
adapting different numbers of sustainable practices, and this study finds that a higher
number of adaptation leads to lower production costs. However, the relationship
between the number of sustainable practices adaptation and yield is less consistent,
with only the cluster bean farm showing higher number of adaptation leading to higher
yield. These results highlight the potential cost benefits of adopting sustainable
agricultural practices.
