Abstract:
In Sri Lanka tea small holders in the mid country had been traditionally cultivating pepper, coffee and clove for a long time. Among these pepper is the most compatible crop with any category of tea in the mid and low elevations. Tea is a perennial tree crop which has a long immaturity period. It is therefore difficult to regulate supply on a short-term basis according to changing market conditions. This is one of the major reasons for prices to remain rather volatile and create uncertainty among both growers and consumers particularly the small businesses. Therefore intercropping minimizes these risks involved in growing a mono crop. This study analyses the factors determining the adoption of tea based pepper intercropping and determine whether the total family income is affected by intercropping pepper in tea lands in mid country wet zone at small holder level. Sample of 80 tea small holders were selected from Yatinuwara D.S. Division for the study.Out of the total list 80 farmers were proportionately selected from each Tea Inspector range in the area. According to the results of binary logistic model annual income from tea, land extent cultivated, field experience of the farmer, education level and type of labour usage were significant factors for the decision of intercropping pepper with tea. Lower income generated by tea mono cropping was encouraged the decision of intercropping pepper with tea, good experience on farming of both crops ,was highly favourable for intercropping and most of less educated people were tend to intercrop pepper with tea. According to the results obtained from multiple regression model intercropping pepper with tea was negatively affected for the total family income of the farmers. It implies that limitation of technical knowledge was the main problem subsequently faced by tea small holders who had adopted tea — pepper intercropping in the area. Results indicate that there is need for both income support through farm subsidies or incentives and more user friendly agricultural extension services, if tea - pepper intercropping is to be adopted more widely in the area.
Keywords: Tea Pepper Intercropping, Binary logistic model, Income
