Communication and adoption of home gardening among households: A case study

Home gardening is deliberated as a beneficial practice in Sri Lanka as it increases the production of vegetables even during the off seasons. The existing literature insists that knowledge and information are basic aspects for increased agricultural production and productivity. This study focuses on examining the uses and limitations of agricultural communication about home gardening. Primary data were collected using questionnaire from fifty households in Kuchchaveli divisional secretariat in Trincomalee district, Sri Lanka which represents Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala ethnic groups. Findings indicate that around thirteen communication channels are used by the respondents to receive information on home gardening. Mostly used communication channel was Grama Niladhari (government appointed headman for villages). Mainstream mass communication channels such as television, radio and newspaper have least used by respondents to receive information related to home gardening. There is a significant relationship between communication source and adoption of home gardening. However, a significant correlation cannot be seen between communication sources and the awareness level. The study concludes that even though number of communication channels are available in the area, they have not been used effectively to disseminate information on home gardening to people. Thus, given the opportunity of being exposed to more information and support, the people of the area has the willingness and capacity to improve the adoption of home gardening and get the benefit of it.