Importance of contact farmers as a source of information in the adoption of selected rice production practices among farmers in Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent and in what manner contact farmers influenced the dissemination of information related to the adoption of selected rice production practices among farmers in the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka. A sample of 100 contact farmers and 200 non-contact farmers was randomly selected from the population of all farm families living in the Anuradhapura district. Data were collected by personal interview questionnaires. The contact farmers were generally older, participated more in social activities, had more experience in rice farming, operated bigger farms, and earned more farm income than the non-contact farmers. Non-contact farmers perceived the agricultural extension worker to be the most useful source of rice production information; contact farmers, radio, and neighboring non-contact farmers were ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively. There had been exchange of rice production information between contact farmers and their non-contact farmers during the past 12 months. The overall adoption rate among non-contact farmers of recommended rice production practices was high. Non-contact farmers' perceived usefulness of contact farmers as an information source was not related to contact farmers' selected personal and situational characteristics nor to adoption of recommended rice production practices by non-contact farmers. Farm size and farm income of contact farmers were positively related to the amount of communication between them and their non-contact farmers. Adoption of recommended rice production practices by non-contact farmers was positively related to gross farm income of their contact farmers but negatively related to latter's length of service as contact farmers. Communication between contact farmers and non-contact farmers under group situation was more effective than that under one-to-one situation in influencing non-contact farmers to adopt recommended rice production practices. Farmers were generally satisfied and familiar with the operational aspects of the training and visit system of agricultural extension. Recommendations were made to help increase the efficiency of information dissemination under the training and visit system.