Impact of Post-Harvest Technology Adoption on the Well-Being of Pepper Farmers in Kegalle, Sri Lanka

Abstract Pepper is the most widely consumed spice globally and was historically the first to be traded internationally. Sri Lanka, renowned for its high-quality spices, has recently experienced a decline in pepper quality. Ensuring high standards in pepper production is essential for competitiveness in the global market, which can be achieved through the adoption of modern post-harvest processing technologies. This study investigates the determinants influencing the adoption of these technologies and their subsequent impact on the well-being of farmers in the Kegalle District. The technologies assessed herein include threshing machines, blanchers, and drying equipment. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and structured interviews, involving 47 farmers who adopted the technologies and 50 non-adopters, selected through stratified random sampling. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, and binary logistic regression. The results obtained indicate that factors such as internet access, credit accessibility, production costs, and proximity to markets significantly influence the decision to adopt technology. Conversely, socio-economic variables like farming experience and income levels were found to have no significant effect. The farmers who regularly interacted with extension officers and utilized online resources were more likely to adopt the technologies. Differences in satisfaction between the adopters and non-adopters were observed only relative to training programs, whereas other extension services showed no significant variations. The study also found that over 70% of the adopters reported increased income, savings, and physical assets, along with a reduced household workload. The findings suggest that the adoption of modern post-harvest processing technologies substantially enhances the overall well-being of pepper farmers in Sri Lanka.