DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE-BASED GUIDELINE MODEL OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR POTATO FARMERS IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Potato is the most popular root crop and represents a significant portion of the world’s food requirements. However, it has been notified that the quality and safety of potatoes produced in Sri Lanka suffer from inappropriate farming practices. Therefore, this study aims to develop a mobile-based guideline model of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) by reviewing a present farming practice in potato cultivation and to explore farmers’ view on GAPs for potato production in Sri Lanka. The GAPs based guideline model was designed according to the Design Science Research methodology with primary and secondary data, which obtained from 225 potato farmers through a pre-tested structured questionnaire, formal and informal discussions. Then designed model was verified and validated through domain experts. Finally, information and guidance in the designed model is fed through a mobile application. Interestingly, 96% of farmers have a general idea on GAPs, 98% are willing to know about GAPs and the majority (92%) like to follow guidelines based on GAPs. Moreover, age (p=0.000), education level (p=0.001), farming experiences (p=0.008) and willingness to know GAPs (p=0.000), were affect significantly on farmer willingness to follow GAPs through the mobile-based application system. Moreover, the farming practices attached with the usage of synthetic chemicals and fertilizer, soil fertility management, postharvest handling were not properly practiced (78%). Further, spearmen correlation analysis showed that age (p=0.000), education level (p=0.014), and farming experiences (p=0.000), were affect significantly on farmers’ awareness of GAPs. The findings shed a green light for introducing a mobile-based guideline model to provide actionable information and guidance of GAPs to the farmers through a “Govi Nena” real-time mobile based application. Further it supports farmers to overcome improper farming practices of potato cultivation in Sri Lanka that ultimately enhancing the potato production in Sri Lankan context.