Time Allocation Between On - Farm and Off - Farm Works in Colombo District: An Analysis of Tobit Regression Model

Abstract

This study investigated the factors affecting the time allocation between on - farm and off – farm works among the farmers in Padukka Divisional Secretariat, Colombo district. Primary data were collected from three villages in Padukka division and from each village, 50 small scale farmers were selected randomly in 2025. Time allocation for on - farm and off -farm works were taken as dependent variable and demographic, socio-economic and farming characteristics were taken as independent variables. Frequency analysis was used to explore the basic features of the respondents and independent sample t - test was used to test the mean difference in the time allocation for on - farm work and off – form works separately across selected characteristics. The results of frequency analysis indicate that 72.67% of the farmers allocated their time for on - farm works and 27.33% of them allocated their time for off -farm works. Findings of the independent samples t - test proved that there are significant mean differences in time allocation in on - farm works as well as in off – farm works across gender, level of education, availability of capital stock, ownership of land, availability of credit and subsidies. To identify the impact of the above three characteristics on time allocation, Tobit regression model was employed. The outcome of the model highlights that, among the demographic characteristics, age, level of education, and gender while among the socio – economic characteristics only farm income, and among the farming characteristics, experience in farming, availability of credits and subsidies were highly influencing the time allocation for on - farm works. On the other hand, age, level of education, and gender were the significant demographic characteristics, among the socio – economic status, farm size and farm income whereas among the farming characteristics, experience in farming, availability of credits and subsidies were highly influencing the time allocation. The findings of the study can be used to formulate the policies for promoting the rural development and supporting the farmers in diversifying their livelihoods in the study area.