Farmers’ prioritization of dairy development strategies in Vavuniya district, Sri Lanka

This study examines dairy farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for dairy development strategies in the Vavuniya district of Sri Lanka. Yeo hundred dairy farmers from Vavuniya district were randomly selected for this study. The choice research approach was applied, and conditional logit models were developed. The results of the study show that farmers are willing to pay for all the selected development strategies. Farmers prioritize the development strategies as follows: training in silage making, morning and evening milk collection, the establishment of milk collection centres within 2 km of dairy farms, and doubling the success rate of artificial insemination. Farmers’ WTP for training in silage making is higher than their WTP for other dairy development strategies. Female farmers’ WTP for training in silage making is greater than male farmers’ WTP for the same training. Farmers' income and education level each have a positive effect on their WTP for training in silage making, and their education level positively influences their WTP for morning and evening milk collection. The results of this study will assist policymakers in developing appropriate dairy development strategies and charges for the services offered.