Abstract:
This study investigates how the farmers who are receiving environmental services
from the Mahakanumulla Tank Cascade System (MTCS) in Anuradhapura district
perceive their social identity based on their affinity to the natural commons (i.e.,
village tank and water channels) they are benefiting from. First, following a
psychometric research paradigm, the study attempted to design a measurement
scale to gauge the perceived social identity of the individuals in the study
population. Second, with reference to the study population, the study attempted to
investigate how the perceived social identity of the MTCS inhabitants varied with
their demographic characteristics. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional
survey of 463 randomly selected adult village respondents in 13 village
communities of the MTCS. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to
evaluate the validity of the measurement model. The results confirmed the validity
of the model. As depicted in the validated measurement model, perceived social
identity had two dimensions; (1) consciousness of belonging to the group and (2)
affection generated by belonging to the group. Construct means of the above 2
dimensions of the scale were moderately high in the study population. This
indicates that the individuals of the MTCS communities maintain a high sense of
identity as recipients of environmental services from the MTCS. Perceived social
identity significantly (p<0.05) varied in terms of respondents’ certain demographic
characteristics. Fulltime farmers showed a higher social identity compared to the
others who had engaged in off-farm income activities as their mainstay. Farmers
who owned farmlands showed higher perceived social identity than the farmers
without their own farmlands. Smallholder farmers reported a higher social identity
than the farmers with relatively large-scale holdings. Older farmers (> 48 Y) showed
higher social identity compared to the younger farmers. This study has implications
for designing and restructuring participatory management strategies to ensure
sustainability of natural commons such as village tanks.
