http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/636 2026-04-28T08:09:07Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/853 SUSTAINABILITY OF RICE PRODUCTION: A MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVE Najim, M.M.M; Lee, T.S; Haque, M. A; Esham, M As Asian rice demand is projected to increase by 30% in 2010, a sustainable approach of rice production has become important. In order to fulfill the rice demand for the growing population and with the target rice self-sufficiency of 65%, Malaysia has to increase its rice productivity. As the attainment of sustainability in rice farming is country and area specific, Malaysia has devised its own ways to achieve this goal within a prescribed time frame. The major problems faced by the rice sector have been identified and step-by-step solutions are sought through policy changes. Rice estates in Malaysia have already proven that commercial rice production is viable, economical and sustainable. FELCRA Seberang Perak, the first and largest rice estate in Malaysia, has proven the sustainability and viability of commercial rice farming by achieving a continuous cropping intensity of 200%. The keywords to sustainable rice production are doubling yields, estatization and private corporate sector investments. The strategies to be devised must include getting investments to make the present non-lucrative business a profitable venture, whilst balancing the country’s social obligation. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/847 SCALE, SKILL AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS – PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES TO IMPROVING POULTRY PRODUCTION IN PERIURBAN COMMUNITIES: EVIDENCE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. lderson, A; Jordaan, J. W Poverty and food insecurity are widespread in developing countries around the world. Sub-Saharan Africa which accounts for approximately one quarter of the world’s poor has acute food insecurity in Central, East and Southern Africa. Poverty has multiple dimensions characterised by the inability of individuals, households or entire communities to access sufficient assets to sustain a socially acceptable standard of living. By improving their asset status households can become more resilient to external shocks through increased options for livelihoods. This paper examines the scaling-up of traditional family poultry systems as a possible livelihood strategy to reduce poverty and food insecurity in peri-urban communities in South Africa. Participative action research methodologies revealed small-scale broiler enterprises as the preferred poultry system. Through business incubation, trainee entrepreneurs from the community demonstrated abilities to manage scaled-up broiler systems profitably over four successive cycles of production and marketing. Participation in the broiler enterprise enabled entrepreneurs to accumulate a range of assets which contributed to improving their income and food security status. Improvements in household food security were achieved directly through the increased availability of poultry meat and indirectly through increased cash incomes to acquire other foodstuffs. At the community level, localised benefits included the increased availability of fresh poultry meat and the income effects derived from more competitive retail pricing. The paper concludes that further research is required to determine the viability of different scales of production that could be managed within the framework of local culture and access to resources. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/843 ANALYSIS OF COST OF MILK PRODUCTION IN RATNAPURA DISTRICT Jayaweera, T.S.P; Ruwandeepika, H.A.D; Kendaragama, K.M.S.B; Fernando, W.A.P; Jayarathne, H.M.K.P; Thotawaththe, T.S.J The success of Dairy farming, as a form of business, depends on profitable milk production and marketing. The price of milk depends on various factors such as demand, supply, cost of production, location of the area and marketing channel. Profit margin in the dairy industry has been considered to rest on the difference between the cost of production per liter of milk and the average farm gate price for milk. The objective of this study was to identify the factors affecting the cost of milk production in Ratnapura District and suggest a reasonable and appropriate price for a liter of milk produced by dairy farmers in the district considering the cost of production of milk. A field survey was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire on the cost of milk production in the area. Two hundred and fifty dairy farmers were selected from the district for the study by using simple random sampling method. The highest amount of cost has been spent for labour. It was estimated to be 44.1% of the total cost while 41.7% of the total cost represents the feeding cost. The rest of the cost is due to other operational costs, like cost of depreciation of initial investment (3.1%), cost of veterinary services (3.2 %), cost of building repairs (0.6%), cost of death and losses (4.9 %) and breeding & miscellaneous costs (2.4 %). The costs of production of a liter of milk by an average farmer, when his family labour costs are included and excluded were Rs. 25.50 and Rs. 14.60 respectively. The average price paid to all farmers surveyed was Rs. 28.75 per liter of milk. It greatly varies with fat content of the milk. Average herd size of the area was four animals per farm. Average milking cows per farm were 2.8.It is recommended to have a minimum price of Rs.30 per liter of milk to make dairying a fairly profitable for farmers in the area. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/838 BEHAVIORAL PATTERN OF FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONSUMERS IN THE ‘POLA’ (FAIR) SYSTEM IN MONARAGALA DISTRICT IN SRI LANKA Jayatillake, P. J; Mahalianaarachchi, R. P The vegetable and fruit production plays a major role in domestic food production in Sri Lankan agricultural sector. In the process of developing the fruit and vegetable sector, it is very useful to consider the needs, preferences and behaviour of consumers. The main objective of this study is to find the behavioral patterns of fruit and vegetable consumers in the “Pola” (fair) system and reasons for such behaviour. This research study was carried out by using a combination of cross sectional survey and case studies due to explanatory nature of the study. A total of 100 consumers were interviewed and four case studies were carried out in Monaragala District. Five fairs were selected from five of 10 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. To statistically analyze the data, frequency distributions and chi-squire tests were used. The majority (77%) of the consumers of the Pola in the Monaragala District were regular purchasers. The main reason for their preference was low price (40%) and freshness (34%). The consumer’s main vegetable purchasing market was the Pola (97.9%) and the next was the village retailer (65.5%). The consumers’ main consideration in buying vegetables and fruits is price (56.8%). Their next considerations are appearance (52%), freshness 40%, and nutritive value (42.4%) respectively. Consumers were interested in both price and quality (appearance, freshness and nutritive value) when they purchase vegetables and fruits at the Pola. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z