Abstract:
The agricultural sector occupies an important place in the economy. At present the labour force
contribution in the agricultural sector is 26%. The problem of the study is what are the push
factors that are driving the rural youth community away from agriculture. The main objective of
the study was to identify the factors pushing the youth community away from agriculture (chena
farming and tea cultivation) and analyse them from a sociological point of view. In-depeth
interviews and observations were used in the collection of preliminary data for research data
collection. Department of Census and Statistics records, Agriculture Officer and Grama Niladhari
annual reports were used in the collection of secondary data. Random samples were selected
from Lankagama with a sample size of 45 people which includes Grama Niladari, Agriculture
Officers and people at various age levels. Qualitative methodology was used as the main
methodology in this study. The livelihood of the villagers could be identified as chena farming
and Kithul industry associated with the Sinharaja reserve. But today tea cultivation can be
identified as the main livelihood due to the lack of permission to cultivate in the reserve and the
impact of the open economy. At present, the interest of the young community in the plantation
industry tea cultivation is very low. In this way, the problem of income and marketing can be
identified as the main reason for young community to leave agriculture. It appears that a good
price could not be obtained for tea cultivation due to the dilapidated condition of the Lankagama
road system. Lankagama many lands do not have deeds and therefore it is not possible to obtain
a bank loan when obtaining fertilizer machinery for cultivation. As a result, low-income tea
buyers are being held hostage to" Dalu potha” (Daily Report Book) loans and high-interest loans,
a unique feature of the village. Also, due to lack of infrastructure development, lack of technology
and services and for education and employment goals, the young community left agriculture and
migrated from village to town. Close proximity to the Sinharaja Reserve can be seen as a growth
of the tourism industry in Lankagama village. It is also observed that the youth are leaving
agriculture. The inability to identify a clear economic benefit in agriculture and plantation and
the backwardness of the youth community in defining agriculture as a non-permanent economic
activity is the main factor influencing the youth community to shift from agriculture and tea
cultivation to other economic activities.
