Study of Government Fertilizer Subsidiaries Program: With Special Reference to Paddy Cultivation in Kurunagala District

Abstract

The paddy cultivation is one of the major contributors of agricultural sector in Sri Lankan economy. Sri Lankan Government had a plan to provide fertilizer subsidiaries from the year 2005. The Government invested more than Rs.102 Billion between the period 2005-2010 and increase the land cultivation and utilization by 337 000 hectares up to 40 53 000 hectares. This study attempts to analyze the impact of fertilizer subsidiaries with special reference to paddy cultivation in the Kurunagala District. The main objective of this study is to observe the successfulness of government fertilizer subsidiary program in the cultivator side. population of this study is paddy cultivators in the Kurunagala District 100 respondents were selected from paddy cultivators in the Andarawewa Grama Niladhari Division of Ahetuwewa Secretaries’ division by using random sampling method both primary and secondary data were used for this study. Primary data was collected by using formal questionnaire and respective officers in agricultural sector were interviewed for collecting further primary data. According to the sample that shows more positive results in this study as follows. This program increases paddy cultivation due to fertilizer subsidy (88% of respondents), increase of paddy land utilization (40% of respondents), increase of harvest (85% of respondents), increase of profitability (80% of respondents), creation of positive attitudes in cultivators (90% of respondents). According to study, further the negative results were found 22% of respondents viewed on poor informal fertilizer distribution network. 30% of farmers viewed the time delay of the fertilize distribution. End of the study, it can be concluded that the government fertilizer subsidiary program was more successful with some problems attached to fertilizer subsidiary program as well.