Assessibg The Effectiveness of Sustainable farming practices adopted by Vegetable Farmers in Batticaloa District

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.