Entrepreneurial behavior and interactivity of Sri Lankan farmer groups

Abstract

Farming is increasingly been seen to be less attractive in commercial viability in the Sri Lankan farming community. Among the many factors influencing the entrepreneurial behavior of farmers, group interactions are of high importance. Understanding these interactions could be useful to foster entrepreneurial activities. Study was conducted among the farmers in Matale district, which is among the top 4 districts producing high amount of vegetables in Sri Lanka. Two successful farmer organizations, one farming throughout the year (in Yala and Maha seasons) and the other farming only in Yala season, were selected for the study. Overall objective of the study was to examine the entrepreneurial behavior of vegetable farmers. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 60 vegetable farmers, 30 each from the two farmer organizations. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. Overall group interaction and entrepreneurial behavior of the sample was at a moderate level. Study revealed effective entrepreneurial behavior involving high planning ability, and decision making ability. Majority of the farmers possessed a moderate level of innovativeness, risk orientation, coordinating ability, opportunity seeking behavior, self-confidence, and achievement motivation. Group interactions were low at land preparation, pest and disease controlling, harvesting, irrigation water distribution, participating in training programmes, and selling of harvest. Entrepreneurial behavior of farmers have enhanced with group interactions. The group characteristics of the two farmer groups had resulted significant differences in their group interactions and entrepreneurial behavior. Entrepreneurial behavior of the farmers was not prominent in vegetable cultivation. Risk orientation of farmers' was reportedly low. Low group interactions in the marketing of produce seemed to have an impact on the commercial viability of their operations Entrepreneurial behavior of farmers enhanced with socio-economic status and social participation.