ADOPTION DECISION AND INTENSITY OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER USAGE AMONG PADDY FARMERS IN KALUTARA: A CRAGG’S DOUBLE HURDLE MODEL APPROACH

Fertilizer, whether inorganic or organic is one of the most essential inputs for increasing productivity which leads to increase the agricultural production and the income of the farming community. Therefore, understanding the factors that affect farmers’ use of fertilizers is crucial to develop strategies to improve its efficient use and to minimize its negative impacts on rural community. In this background, this study aimed to identify the determinants of adoption decision and intensity of inorganic fertilizer usage among paddy farmers in Kalutara district. The data related to 150 paddy farmers were collected from Mathugama, Dodangoda and Horana Divisions in Kalutara district using multistage random sampling method. Among the respondents, 56% were farmers adopting inorganic farming and 44% of them adopting organic fertilizers. Results of independent samples t-test suggested that on average farmer’s age, distance to the nearest market and land size significantly differed between inorganic and organic farmers. Cragg’s double hurdle model was used to investigate the determinants of adoption decision and intensity of inorganic fertilizer usage among paddy farmers. The results of the study revealed that the likelihood of fertilizer adoption decision was influenced by land size, distance to the nearest market and credit accessibility while, the factors such as age, income and, off – farm income significantly influenced the intensity of fertilizer adoption. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to encourage fertilizer adoption and intensity of inorganic fertilizer usage by increasing the size of land, facilitating to access credit, motivating the young farmers towards paddy farming and, stimulating the farmers to engage in off – farm income activities, which could be useful for fertilizer adoption decision and its extension of application in the study. Keywords: Adoption Decision, Cragg’s Double Hurdle Model, Inorganic Fertilizer, Land Ownership, Off – Farm Income.