Training and visit system in Sri Lanka: The relative importance of contact farmer as a source of rice production information

Abstract

The purpose of the study described in this paper was to determine how useful non-contact farmers perceived contact farmers to be as a source of rice production information when compared with other sources such as the radio, newspapers, journals, agricultural pamphlets, demonstrations, field days, agricultural extension workers and other non-contact farmers. The data were collected by personal interview questionnaires from a random sample of 200 non-contact farmers living in a representative dry zone district in Sri Lanka. Non-contact farmers perceived the agricultural extension worker to be the most useful source of rice production information; contact farmers, the radio and neighbouring non-contact farmers were ranked second, third and fourth, respectively. In most cases, non-contact farmers' perceptions of the understandability, availability and trustworthiness of an information source were positively related to their perceived usefulness of that source. Recommendations are made to increase the efficiency of information dissemination under the training and visit system of extension in Sri Lanka.