ASSESSMENT OF ENTERPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR AMONG TEA SMALL HOLDERS IN LOW COUNTRY SRI LANKA

Abstract

Over the years Sri Lanka has gained profound popularity for its world renowned ‘Ceylon Tea’. Being one of the major plantation crops in Sri Lanka, tea industry plays a vital role in the Sri Lankan economy. Interestingly, tea small holding sector leads the industry by contributing 73% to the total tea production in the country out of which low country tea small holders own 82% of the production. Considering the importance of the tea small holders, this study mainly focuses on assessing the entrepreneurial behaviour and identifying the factors which determined the entrepreneurial behavior of tea small holders in low country. The study was conducted at Kottawa tea inspector’s division in Galle district. Randomly selected 60 tea small holders were interviewed using a pretest ed questionnaire. Entrepreneurial Behavioral Index (EBI) was constructed using the eleven attributes of entre preneurial behaviour. Results revealed that the overall entrepreneurial behaviour of the tea small holders posted a value of 76.62. Among all the attributes, achievement motivation, farming knowledge and self-confidence were revealed as higher level entrepreneurial behaviour attributes. Rest of them such as innovativeness, management orientation, decision making, utilize available assistance, risk taking, leadership ability, coordination and cosmop oliteness have designated a medium level entrepreneurial attributes. Education level, family support, utilization of information sources and the number of trainings received were identified as the key determinants which has im pacted significantly and positively on entrepreneurial behaviour. Finally this study recommends introducing the entrepreneurship development training programs to achieve the medium level components to highest level.