Abstract:
The increasing population also increases the demand for food crops especially
rice in Sri Lanka. But, while comparing with the increase in demand for rice,
the production of rice in Sri Lanka is not satisfactory. Therefore, modern
agricultural technology was introduced for paddy. This study analyzed factors
affecting modern agricultural technology adoption by farmers and the impact
of technology adoption decisions on productivity in the study area. The data
used for the study were obtained from 50 randomly selected sample
households in the study area. Data collected were analyzed using the logit
regression model and Cobb-Douglas production function. The binary logit
model was employed to analyze the determinants of farmers’ decisions to
adopt modern technologies. The result of the logistic regression showed that
household heads’ education level, farm size, credit accessibility, perception of
farmers about the cost of the inputs and off-farm income positively and
significantly affected the farm households’ adoption decision; while family
size affected their decision negatively and significantly. The result of the
Cobb-Douglas production estimation showed that the average productivity of
adopters is greater than that of non-adopters. Based on these findings it is
recommended policymakers have to plan in such a way that the farm
households in the study area will obtain sufficient education, credit
accessibilities and also have to train farmers to make them understand the
benefits obtained from adopting the new technologies. These bodies have also
to arrange policy issues that improve farm labor participation of household
members and also to arrange how farmers obtain means of income outside
farming activities
