Impact of Ill health Conditions on Productivity of Farmers Case Study in Galenbindunuwewa, Sri Lanka

The agriculture sector is one of the key area in Sri Lanka& #039, s economy with more than 70 % of the population living in rural areas depending on agriculture for their livelihoods. Currently this sector contributes to about 7.1 % of the GDP and 30 % of the employment. (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2016). Even though Agriculture plays a main role, poor health directly affects agricultural production. Illnesses affects the farmers ability to innovate, experiment, and implement changes, and to acquire technical information available through many ways. The ultimate impact of ill health is a decline in household income and possible food insecurity that is, a severe deterioration in household livelihood. Long-term incapacitation, households may resort to so many difficulties. Aim of this research was to Understand prominent health issues through primary data sources such as informal and formal discussions with respective persons in Galenbindunuwewa DS Division, Sri Lanka and assess loss of productivity of Unhealthy farmers using pretested structured type questionnaires. Both quantitative and qualitative data were used to assess the impact of farmers ill health on productivity. Objectives of the study were to find out most prominent health impediments of farmers, assessing the impact of health on their productivity and making recommendation to reduce the impact of health impediments. The study was carried out in Upuldeniya, Mailagaswewa and Himbatugollawa villages in the Galenbindunuwewa DS Division, Anuradhapura District and the sample of 70 households were selected from each village based on Stratified Random Sampling Technique. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation, two sample T Test and chi square test. According to the results, it can be concluded those CKD and Occupational injuries were most prominent health issues of farmers in Galenbindunuwewa and also CKD was major threat for farmer economy and their health condition. Ill health condition of the farmers severely affected to crop production and other agricultural Occupations and non-agricultural Occupations. Based on findings, it can be recommended, Government should take action immediately to minimize health impact of CKD of poor remote villagers in Anuradhapura District.