Abstract:
Due to concerns about non communicable diseases, animal welfare, and the
organic animal product sector have become
emerging trends in the world as well as in Sri
Lanka. As very little is known about consumer
perception about organic animal products, a
survey was conducted in Colombo district, Sri
Lanka together with 178 respondents. Five
supermarkets and one organic selling place (Good
market) were used for the survey. By using the chi square method, the effect of each demographic
character on awareness and purchasing
behaviour about organic animal products was
evaluated. Out of total respondents, 51% of
respondents reported that they did not hear about
organic animal products. Only 49% of
respondents had heard about organic animal
products. Among 49% of respondents, only 61%
of respondents were buyers and 37% were non buyers. The majority of the organic animal
products buyers were in middle age (31-45 years
old), well-educated, and had higher family income
over 100,000 LKR. The higher price was reported
as a barrier to purchase organic animal products.
The majority of the respondents believed that
organic animal products do not contain residues
of pesticides, antibiotics, and medications, as well
as majority of respondents, believed that there was
no difference in taste between organically and
conventionally produced animal products. At
present in Sri Lanka, certified organic animal
products are not available. Therefore, out of total
buyers, 98% of respondents had been misled the
term organic and they purchased free-range
animal products.
