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Consumer´s Perception and Sellers´s Attribute on Organic Food Production in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, SRI LANKA
  • 2Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, SRI LANKA

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 4, Issue (12), Pages 26-33, December,10 (2015)

Abstract

Over the past decades, demand on organic food products has been increased rapidly in all over the world. Therefore, people show an interest on cultivation of organic products at their home level as well as purchasing organic food products by selective buying in markets and supermarkets. In this view, a pre tested questionnaire survey was conducted to understand the nature of sellers supported with their monthly income, profit and economic status for their successful living standard as much as focusing on organic food products. Further, prevalence was analyzed statistically with the access of SPSS (version 22) and significant level was considered at P0.05 and P0.01 level. Farmers (organic food producers) were randomly selected from three Divisional Secretariat Divisions named as Koralai Pattu North, Eravur Town and Manmunai North included with ten GN Divisions in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. There was a positive significant relationship on monthly average income of the sellers with the extent of land (P0.05, r=0.482), price determination (P0.01, r=.818), selling the entire commodity (P0.01, r=0.715) and economic status (P0.05, r=0.380). Transportation was satisfaction with more than half of the sellers. Satisfaction showed the negative impact on the damage of the commodity (P0.01, r= 0.787). However, if there is any damages over a commodity, it showed a great reduction on their selling of goods (P0.05, r=0.454) which was occurred due to the public transportation and poor road facility (P0.05, r=0.407). Extension services played a vital role in income growth of the top level farmers (high knowledge) with r= 0.449 at P0.05 level. Available extension services negatively influenced with practical way of technical supports on poor level of farmers due to the lack of basic knowledge and awareness of the sellers. It was r=0.523 at P0.01 level. As the result, consumers’ perception was identified as the key factor contributing much on sellers’ attributes for adapting new technologies on organic farming in each part of the DS Divisions from Batticaloa District. Positively signified correlations were clearly seen with the increased living standard and economic status of the sellers in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka where it needs to be enhanced in future and via further studies.

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