Abstract:
The main objectives of this study were to find out the adoption rate of mechanical
paddy harvester in the Batticaloa district, and to assess the influence of information
sources in the adoption of combine harvester in the district and find out the relationship
between the adoption of harvester and the utilization of information sources and the
socio economic characteristic of farmers in the district. The primary data for this study
were gathered through survey by using pre-tested questionnaire and the secondary data
were collected from relevant department’s such as Department of Agriculture, Agrarian
Service Centre, Department of Planning, Kachchery Batticaloa and other organizations.
The study was carried out among hundred paddy farmers in the Batticaloa district, the
sample farmers were selected according to the farmers’ population and the extent of
cultivation. According to the survey it was found that nine percent of farmers were
adopters and 91 percent of them were Non-Adopters. The adoption rate was estimated
by considering the extent of paddy land harvested by combine harvester out of total
land cultivated. It was calculated for each adopter and for the entire farmers surveyed
by this way the overall adoption rate was found. The adopters were classified into low,
medium and high adopters according to the extent harvested by harvester.
The influence of information sources in adoption of combine harvester was found by
using five point Likert scale method with frequency of usage of information sources.
The influence of information sources in adoption was found to be less and there was no
considerable influence of information sources in adoption of combine harvester and it
was found that there is a significant correlation between income level and the adoption
of combine harvester. The information source mostly used by farmers to get to know
about combine harvester was the progressive farmers followed by the
neighbours/relatives. Normally the farmers get new ideas/information from progressive
farmers, followed from radio and relatives/neighbours. It was found that there are pros
and cons in using combine harvester for harvesting. It was found that most of the
farmers had positive attitude about cost effectiveness of the combine harvester and they
preferred to use the combine harvester instead of sickle harvesting, but the problem was
high investment cost required, so by providing incentives to farmers adoption of
combine harvester can be increased.
