Abstract:
Chena cultivation holds a prorninent place in Sri Lankan agriculture, due tr:r its
prevalence over long periocls of time. At present, the traditional Chena eultivation
is undergoing drastic changes. Though there u'ere specific eultivation
patterns, labor use, water use and land use in the traditional Chena cultivation.
they have r"r-ndergone rrarious changes due to population increase, developmelts,
and socio-econotnic transitions. Therefore, the aim of this study tvas t0
examile the alternations that have occurred in the selected geographicai area"
Pahala h,lattala Grama Niladari division of Lunugamrvehera Divisional Secretariat
in Southern province has been chosen as the study area and it consists
of 278 families; of rvhich 969/o is engaged in Chena cultivation. As ttre sample,
45 of families have been selected b1' using random sampling method ancl data
rvas collected through questionnaires, inten iervs and direct observaticrns. I)ata
u,as anaivzecl qualitati\rel,y and sirnple statistical parameters r't-ere used. It rva.s
evident through results that the traditional cultivation practices have changed
tempora-}ly, clue to the socio-economic transitions. The findings revealed that
the iemporal socio-economic changes in the selected study area has resuited in
significant changes in the factors such as patterns of land use,labor and cultivation
in Chena traditions and has affected the changes in the life style of the
farmers. In conelusion, it can be emphasised that changes need to be made to
aspects such as permanent land use instead of alternative land use, hired labor
instearl of collective labor an<l crop specilication instead of crop dir"ersifieation.
