@article{Yapa:205957,
      recid = {205957},
      author = {Yapa, K.D.A.J. and Ariyawardana, A.},
      title = {Willingness to Pay for a Fee-Based Extension Service by  Tea Smallholders in Galle District},
      journal = {Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics},
      address = {2005},
      number = {1381-2016-115747},
      pages = {17},
      year = {2005},
      abstract = {The agricultural extension service in Sri Lanka is  generally considered as supply driven, and limitedly  focused on farmers’ aspirations and needs. The state  services are also said to be inefficient and operating at a  high cost. From the farmers’ point of view it is an  incomplete service provider. This has increased attention  towards the potential for privatization of agricultural  extension services. Therefore, this study was conducted  with the objectives of analyzing the tea smallholders’  willingness to pay (WTP) for a fee-based extension service  and the factors affecting their WTP. A sample of 100 tea  smallholders was randomly selected from four sub office  areas under the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority,  Galle. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested  questionnaire. Open ended elicitation method was used to  obtain the WTP and a probit regression model was used to  analyze the factors affecting their WTP.

Although 66% of  the tea small holders have received extension services from  the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, only 42% of  them have had services at the right time. A majority of the  tea smallholders rely more on their own experience.  Although 42% of the tea smallholders have indicated that  they would like to have some other extension service, only  24% were willing to pay for such a service. The average WTP  was Rs. 85.62 per month by a tea smallholder. According to  the probit analysis, proportion of income had a significant  positive influence and farming experience had a significant  negative influence on the WTP. Based on the analysis it  could be concluded that the tea small holders’ in Galle  district have a minimal interest towards a fee-based  extension service and hence implementation of a private  advisory service in the tea smallholding sector is not  viable.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/205957},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.205957},
}