Abstract:
This study examined the impact of climate conditions, socio – economic characteristics,
agricultural practices and techniques, and biological – environmental factors on cinnamon
harvest in Walasmulla divisional secretariat division in Hambantota district. The dependent
and the four independent variables were measured by 5 – point Likert scale from 1 to 5 where
1 for strongly disagree and 5 for strongly agree and each variable has four items. Internal
consistency of the among questionnaire for the items were analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha
and its values are greater than the minimum requirement of 0.7 for all independent and
dependent variables suggests that the items have satisfactory internal consistency and
consecutively measure the concept. Adopting the quantitative research methodology, data
was collected from 150 cinnamon cultivators through a self-administered questionnaire and
they were analyzed using correlation and multiple linear regression techniques. The results
of correlation revealed that, amount of cinnamon harvest has positively and significantly
related with all independent variables and among them, biological – environmental factors
and agricultural practices and techniques have highly correlated with the cinnamon harvest
than other variables. The findings of the multiple linear regression model revealed that
climate conditions, socio – economic characteristics, agricultural practices and techniques,
and biological – environmental factors had a significant positive impact on cinnamon
harvest. It is recommended that policymakers prioritize these factors to foster the
development of the cinnamon sector by increasing the amount of annual production and
harvest in Hambantota district.
