Abstract:
Chemical leasing is based on the belief that utilizing chemicals effectively lowers the
risks to the environment, the economy, and human health. Because it is an integrated
preventative environmental policy, this strategy relates to a situation where both
industry and the environment win. Pesticides used in agriculture, whether they are
restricted or not, can have negative effects on both people and the environment. The
majority of farmers currently use several agrochemicals in their crop cultivation.
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are heavily used by farmers, particularly in the
Badulla district. They also stopped cultivating because of the restrictions on fertilizer.
Due to the crisis, farmers in the Badulla district and around the nation are dealing with
several difficulties. Even though the chemical leasing idea is a sustainable concept,
because it is a new one, it is difficult to put into practice. The idea of "chemical leasing"
is a novel business idea that, while reducing the use of chemicals, increases profits for
key stakeholders and is a good response to the problematic aspects of traditional
agriculture. Here the researcher conducts the study to identify Drivers, barriers, and
challenges to adopting to chemical leasing concept by vegetable farmers in the Badulla
district. For this study, a mixed method was used, and data were gathered through
unstructured interviews with 30 farmers in the Badulla district. Finally, the data were
analyzed using the frequency analysis method. To make it easier to identify the major
and minor elements impacting vegetable farmers in the Badulla district's ability to adapt
to the chemical leasing service, the detected factors might be arranged in descending
order. As major drivers for adapting to the chemical leasing concept, researchers
revealed that chemical leasing is a cost-saving concept, Time saving concept, healthy
products produce, improved environmental performance and expertise knowledge and
as barriers, Lack of knowledge about the chemical leasing principles, Fear of new
changes, consider as a risk-taking, Lack of technical skills, Lack of industry-wide
norms and standards, etc. Finally, researcher revealed that Damage caucused by
animals, Climate factors and natural disasters and Poor Policy framework as major
challenges for adapting the chemical leasing concept by vegetable farmers in the
Badulla district.
