Determinants of Permaculture Awareness among Vegetable Farmers in Perlis

Abstract

Permaculture has emerged as a sustainable agricultural approach that enhances ecological resilience, promotes resource efficiency, and supports long-term productivity, particularly within small-scale farming systems. However, despite its potential benefits, awareness and willingness to adopt permaculture practices among vegetable farmers remain relatively limited, especially among home growers in rural communities. In Perlis, vegetable farmers across five districts: Bintong, Mata Ayer, Paya, Padang Siding, and Beseri, were continuing to experience constraints such as limited exposure, financial concerns, and uneven understanding of sustainable agricultural innovations, which may hinder broader adoption. Therefore, this study aims to examine the factors influencing awareness of adopting permaculture practices among vegetable farmers in Perlis, focusing on two main variables, namely cost and knowledge (comprehension). A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 52 respondents selected from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) Perlis database. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, incorporating frequency analysis, reliability testing, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis to determine the relationships and predictive strength of the identified factors. The findings indicate that the research instruments achieved acceptable reliability levels. Inferential analysis shows that cost has a statistically significant relationship with awareness of permaculture adoption, with a p-value of 0.003 (p < 0.05), indicating a meaningful influence on farmers’ awareness. Nevertheless, knowledge or comprehension is not statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.512 (p > 0.05), suggesting that it does not significantly contribute to awareness within the present model. Regression results further confirm that cost is the dominant predictor compared to knowledge. In conclusion, awareness of permaculture practices among small-scale vegetable farmers in Perlis is primarily shaped by financial considerations rather than knowledge-related factors. Therefore, targeted interventions such as subsidies, cost-sharing initiatives, and financial support mechanisms may be more effective in enhancing awareness and encouraging adoption of permaculture practices among home growers in the region.