Determinants of Conversion Decision from Conventional Tea to Organic Tea in Neluwa Sinharaja Buffer Zone, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Promoting organic tea farming is becoming popular as conventional intensive tea farming is facing emerging environmental and social problems. This study aimed to explore the determinants of farmers’ conversion decision from conventional to organic tea in the Neluwa Sinharaja buffer zone of Sri Lanka. A questionnaire survey of 200 organic and inorganic tea farmers was done in the data collection. Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney test, and logistic regression were employed in data analysis. The majority of farmers in both farming systems was male and was within the 41-50 age group. Farmgate price of organic tea varied between 90-117 LKR kg-1 while conventional tea prices ranged from 70-93 LKR kg-1. Organic tea farming reported better economic performances: high product price, maximum utilization of on-farm/community resources, and low cost of production as well as better environmental performances like discharging non-polluted water, enhancing soil fertility, and reduced soil erosion, compared to conventional tea farming. Logistic regression revealed that, farming experiences (OR=0.218), training participation (OR=4.348), access to extension services (OR=7.509), size of households (OR=1.963), farm gate price (OR=1.829), yield (OR= -0.003), and total cost (OR=1.000) as determinants significantly (p<0.05) affecting on conversion decision from conventional to organic tea farming while the land extent (OR=0.096) was a significantly affecting determinant only at 10% significance level in Neluwa Sinharaja buffer zone. The study recommends focusing on the aforesaid significant determinants that motivate farmers to convert from conventional to organic tea farming in other potential areas in the country.