“e-PaddySurv” - a sustainable crop surveillance system for Sri Lankan paddy cultivation

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praneesha N. Chandrasiri ◽  
Yamaya Ekanayaka
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Paddy Cultivation

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF FERTILIZER SUBSIDY ON PADDY PRODUCTION OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS: SPECIAL REFERENCE IN POLONNARUWA DISTRICTIN SRI LANKA

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44
Author(s):  
M B Ranathilaka ◽  
I.A.J Imbulana Arachchi
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Living Condition ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Paddy Farmers ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Paddy Cultivation ◽  
Paddy Yield

Paddy cultivation is major part in rural agriculture sector in Sri Lanka. Majority of rural sector paddy farmers are small-scale producers. According to available data paddy production sector provides livelihood opportunities for large numbers of rural population, provide rice requirement of the nation, provide inputs to other industrial sector etc.To enhance small-scale farmers living condition as well as paddy production, Sri Lankan government promotes paddy farmers to use more fertilizer for their paddy cultivation activities. Therefore, Sri Lankan government provides subsidized fertilizer to enhance both paddy production and paddy yield per acre. Last few decades paddy production and paddy yield per acre data show continues increasing trend. At the same time government expenditure on fertilizer also becomes heavy burden to national budget. There are arguments for and against to fertilizer subsidy program and its practice. This study attempts to study the effect of fertilizer subsidy on paddy production and living condition of small-scale farmers in Polonnaruwa district in Sri Lanka. The data are used to estimate an econometric model to find the relationship between paddy productivity, fertilizer subsidy, agricultural infrastructure facilities and farmers education level. The data were collected from Bubula and Raja-elagama villages in Higurakgoda divisional secretariat in Polonnaruwa district. Structured questioner was used to collect the data from 150 farmers. The results show that there is significant relationship between paddy production and dependent variables named fertilizer subsidy, agricultural infrastructure facilities and farmers education level. Especially fertilizer subsidy and paddy productivity is significant at 5 per cent level and R2 was 0.68. This result shows that government main objective of fertilizer subsidy that improves paddy productivity has been fulfilled. At the same time, household income from paddy has also increased and it has affected their livelihoods. But poor agricultural infrastructural facilities have mitigated farmers’ income. Research results and some empirical evidence have concluded that it is important to find alternative methods to select suitable and needy farmers who are eligible to get fertilizer subsidy because conducting methods of distributing have made many kinds of effects on the efficiency of resource utilization, equity of income distribution as well as government budget. Agricultural infrastructure facilities are very important for making fertilizer subsidy programs more meaningful and to have a significant effect on enhancing paddy farmers’ living conditions.

scholarly journals Fluoride concentration and stability in commonly used dentifrices in Sri Lanka

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. e181244
Author(s):  
Niroshani Surangika Soysa ◽  
Jaime Aparecido Cury ◽  
Chrisman Neil Roshan Alexander Alles
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Fluoride Concentration ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Expiration Date ◽  
Fresh Sample

According to the best scientific evidence, a dentifrice should contain 1000 ppm F or above but to guarantee the anti-caries efficacy this concentration should be chemically soluble and remain stable until the dentifrice expiration date. This stability depends on the type of abrasive and fluoride salt used in the formulation. Nine brands of dentifrices purchased in the Sri Lankan market were evaluated. The total fluoride (TF = soluble + insoluble) and total soluble fluoride (TSF = ion MFP + ion F-) concentrations were determined in fresh samples and after storage at room temperature and after accelerated aging. The analyses were made with an ion specific electrode using a validated analytical method. Three dentifrices were formulated with MFP/CaCO3, two with MFP/Silica, two with NaF/Silica and two were not fluoridated. The TF concentration found was very close to the concentration declared by the manufacturer. However, even in the fresh sample of one dentifrice formulated with MFP/CaCO3, there was insoluble fluoride (22%). The TSF concentration in all MFP/CaCO3-based dentifrices decreased with storage while insoluble fluoride had increased. The dentifrices formulated with MFP/Silica and NaF/Silica showed chemical stability. This is the first study done about the chemical quality of fluoride dentifrices marketed in Sri Lanka and the findings are an alert for a surveillance system in the country.

scholarly journals Invasion of Paddy Combine Harvester (PCH) and Its Socioeconomic Impacts: A Study based on Ampara District, Sri Lanka

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Seeni Mohamed Ayoob ◽  
Mohamed Anifa Mohamed Fowsar
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Human Power ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Combine Harvester ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Paddy Cultivation

The term mechanisation of paddy agriculture denotes that mechanical power is used in agriculture instead of human and animal power, which is totally diminished today. Paddy agriculture plays an important role in the Sri Lankan economy where rice is the staple food of the country. Ampara district in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka contributes to the national food production by through paddy cultivation. In Ampara district, the tractor was used in paddy agriculture that required the need for human power previously. Nevertheless, the invasion of Paddy Combine Harvester (PCH) has demolished the tasks done by human power in the paddy agricultural sector now. Harvesting, threshing and cleaning were carried out in different stages of a long period with multiple groups of people by using human power in the past. Now it has changed, and Paddy combine Harvester (PCH) is used for all works of harvesting, threshing and cleaning within a short period at present. This study was conducted to emphasise the changes caused by the mechanisation in paddy agriculture and examine the changes among the Muslim society after the invasion of Paddy Combine Harvester (PCH) in the paddy agricultural sector. The decline in collective action and social solidarity among family members and society, loss of farming-related celebrations and ceremonies, the decline of the contribution of women in the agriculture and loss of job opportunities and income were found to be the negative impacts of the invasion of the paddy combine harvester. The decline in the disparities among landlords and peasants, changes in the food and dressing pattern, new employment opportunities and income generation, changes in the education sector, speedy harvesting in the rainy seasons and reduction in workload and less time consumption were found to be the positive impacts of the invasion of paddy combine harvester (PCH).

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