Volume:2, Issue:1 - 2020

Quantitative and Qualitative Losses in Paddy, Maize and Greengram Stored under Household Conditions in Anuradhapura District of Sri Lanka

2020-06-01T00:00:00Z

Quantitative and Qualitative Losses in Paddy, Maize and Greengram Stored under Household Conditions in Anuradhapura District of Sri Lanka Kumari, J.M.P.; Wijayaratne, L.K.W.; Jayawardena, N.W.I.A.; Egodawatta, W.C.P. Substantial losses are common due to various reasons of durable crops during storage, which threatens economy, health and food security. Despite the frequent reports on post-harvest losses of paddy and other cereals throughout Sri Lanka, a comprehensive study has not been conducted in Anuradhapura district in recent past to assess storage losses of aforesaid commodities. Objectives of this study were to find out main types of durable crops stored following harvest, and their quantitative and qualitative losses incurred during storage period at the household level in Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka. Data were collected throughout Anuradhapura district representing all 22 divisional secretariats. The main stored commodities were paddy, maize and greengram. The storage period varied from 4 to 12 months. The storage losses of Nadu and Samba rice varietal types respectively were highest in Palagala and Kekirawa, whereas losses were minimum in Rambewa and Galenbindunuwewa. The main qualitative losses were the presence of damaged seeds, grain flour/dust, grains without kernel and faecal matter. The study highlights that severe quantitative and qualitative losses occur during storage of rice, maize and greengram, and appropriate remedial measures are needed to be developed to minimize the said losses ensuring food security.

Evaluation of Competitiveness of Ceylon Tea in the World Market

2020-06-01T00:00:00Z

Evaluation of Competitiveness of Ceylon Tea in the World Market Jayamanna, V.S.; Abewickrama, L.M.; Kithsiri, K.H.S.Kumara Competitiveness and being competitive is vitally needed to enhance the performance and to tackle challenges in the highly competitive world tea market. The prestige brand Ceylon Tea established in the past has been enjoyed by Sri Lanka having no analysis done to determine the competitiveness of Ceylon Tea in its major destinations. This study was carried out by using the CMS model to determine the competitiveness and to test the possibility of using the model for such purposes. The total change of exported quantity to a particular country could be differentiated into three corporates such as market growth effect, composition effect and the residual effect or competitive effect by using the Constant Market Share (CMS) model. Fifteen destinations of Ceylon Tea markets were selected for the study based on the total quantity of Ceylon Tea exported and the potential of the country to import Ceylon Tea. Tea import data of last fifteen years from 2003 to 2015 were used for the study. The results revealed that Ceylon Tea is found to be competitive in Russia, Kuwait, Japan, Turkey, Germany, Australia, USA, and India, and Azerbaijan, Iran, UK and Libya are found to be having potential for being competitive for Ceylon Tea. However, Sri Lanka could have maintained its share of export and increased the market share in many of these destinations by enhancing the market growth as well as composition effect. Therefore, this model could be used to determine the competitiveness of Ceylon Tea in its destination. Further, tea promotion policy decisions including brand promotion through effective marketing communication could be achieved

Community Perception on Sustainable Utilization of Kaduwela Wetland for Agriculture, Sri Lanka

2020-06-01T00:00:00Z

Community Perception on Sustainable Utilization of Kaduwela Wetland for Agriculture, Sri Lanka Nawarathne, W.R.M.D.P; Dissanayake, S.P.; Ginigaddara, G.A.S. Wetlands serve as valuable natural infrastructure for agriculture for million years. Food security is a global issue of all nations in the world; especially the developing countries. Demand driven agricultural expansion encroaches natural habitats in urban and rural peripherals in developing countries. This study was conducted to investigate community perception towards upland crop cultivation during the dry season in urban Kaduwela wetland. A structured questionnaire was administered to the farmers to collect information. The results of the factor analysis revealed that concerns in agricultural supportive services, irrigation, marketing and technology as major risks and constraints. According to the results of the binary logistic regression; land extent {Odds Ratio (OR)=0.387}, knowledge on environment friendly farming practices (OR=0.070), knowledge on traditional farming practices (OR=14.696), farming experience of the household head (OR=1.126), and access to extension services by the farmers (OR=0.202) were recognized as positively influencing factors (p<0.05). Provision of regular and reliable extension service for choosing of a right crop and self-generating of quality planting materials could be recommended for sustainability of the upland agricultural system in urban Kaduwela wetland

Extending the Shelf life of TomEJC Mango through Application of 1-Methylcyclopropene

2020-06-01T00:00:00Z

Extending the Shelf life of TomEJC Mango through Application of 1-Methylcyclopropene Bandara, R.G.U.S.; Wasala, W.M.C.B.; Prasanna, P.H.P.; Chandramali, D.V.P.; Weerasinghe, W.M.S.S.K. Mango cultivar TomEJC (TJC) has a substantial potential as a fresh food commodity with its high quality; however this cultivar requires a specialized postharvest handling. This study was conducted to extend the shelf life of TJC mango through application of 1-MCP. Four treatments (1 ppm for 12 h and 24 h, 2 ppm for 12 h and 24 h) were tested with a control; stored at 14 °C and 85-90% RH. The changes in flesh colour, pulp firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, weight loss and rate of respiration and ethylene production were measured during the storage of four weeks. Application of 1-MCP showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on flesh colour, firmness, TSS, pH, rate of respiration, and rate of ethylene production. Results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in L* (lightness from black to white), a* (redness to greenness), and b* (yellowness to blueness) values of flesh between control and treatments. The control and 2 ppm for 24 h treatment reached the flesh colour at ripening within 16 days; while, the least rate of colour changed was resulted by 2 ppm 12 h treatment. TSS and pH of fruit pulp increased during the storage period, while the flesh firmness decreased. Further, the same properties of treatment 2 ppm 12 h, resulted the least rates of changing. According to the sensory evaluation and TSS, treating TJC mango with 1-MCP was found to be successful in delaying of ripening and subsequently it extends the shelf life of mango approximately 10 days than the untreated mango. The study showed that the application of 2 ppm of 1-MCP for 12 h the shelf life of TJC mango for period of four weeks in cold storage (14 0C and 85-90% RH) without deteriorating the quality of fruits.