http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/679 2026-04-28T08:08:39Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1019 A Study on Market Window and Economic Efficiency in Assessing Profitability of Selected Upcountry Vegetables in Sri Lanka Priyadarshani, M. D; Wickramasinghe, Y. M Purpose : Vegetable subsector being a foremost source of income and employments, plays an outstanding role in Sri Lankan economy. However, profits from vegetable farming have become low due to low prices and frequent price fluctuations. Thus, this study identifies the existence of profitable markets, profitability, economic efficiency and price fluctuations of selected upcountry vegetables; bean, tomato, potato, cabbage and knol-khol in Bandarawela Divisional Secretariat Division, Badulla district. The aim of the study is to address the key issues in Sri Lankan upcountry vegetable sector. Research Method : Stratified random sampling was applied to draw a sample of 150 vegetable growers to collect primary data. Market window analysis was done to identify profitable markets for each crop. Profit function, economic efficiencies, seasonal price indexes, coefficients of variation of prices and Garret’s ranking technique were employed to examine profitability, price fluctuations and factors that have contributed to above situations from farmers’ point of view. Findings : The results indicated that, market windows were existed during the year 2016 for all crops considered. When compared profits, tomato and bean have produced high profits in Yala; the shorter rainy season (4910.35 US$ ac-1) and Maha; the longer rainy season (2301.35 US$ ac-1) respectively. Moreover, the production of cabbage (Yala2.75) and bean (Maha 1.14) was economically more efficient compared to the other crops considered. The seasonal price index disclosed that, prices of vegetables tend upward during the festival seasons, especially during the months of March and April. The coefficient of variation of price fluctuations over the years and seasonal variation and variability of prices observed were mainly due to seasonality in production, oversupply of production and low level of shelf life of vegetables. As per the constraint analysis, the price fluctuations were the highest perceived obstacles followed by unreasonable price for the fresh produce. Limitations : Limited availability of historical data was a constraint during the study and that was avoided using data for a base year. Value : It is better to conduct a study on market window analysis and profitability evaluation for upcountry vegetables in order to find out profitable market existence for each vegetable because, these evidences are useful to the farmer, trader and planners. 2018-05-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1016 Improving Efficiency and TFP of Lowland Paddy Rice Farmers in Kwara State of Nigeria Sadiq, M. S; Singh, I. P; Singh, N. K; Yakubu, G. M Purpose: The pressure on land for agricultural purposes is on the rise and sustainable agriculture remains the panacea for herdsmen attack on arable crop farmers in the study area. The present research empirically measured and identified the factors that influenced efficiency and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of lowland paddy rice farmers in Kwara State of Nigeria. Research Methodology: The study made use of cross-sectional data collected from 200 active farmers during the 2016 cropping season via Multi-stage sampling technique. Instrument used to elicit information from the active farmers was structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The results proved that majority of the farmers were not smart farmers which is responsible for negative TFP in most of the Decision making units (DMUs) as evident from poor robust increase in output index. However, the study inferred that there remained more untapped potentials in paddy rice production in the studied area. Limitations: The scope of the research is limited to lowland rice farmers in Kwara State of Nigeria. Originality/Value: Therefore, it was recommended that Government and non-governmental organisations should formulate supportive policies targeting sustainability of rice production viz. proper allocation of farm resources and also welfare improvement of the resource poor farmers for cultivating rice crops in the studied area. 2018-05-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1012 Nutrition Knowledge and Misconception about Animal Source Food among Sri Lankans Atapattu, N. S. B. M; Wimalarathne, H. D. A Purpose : Though essential for optimum nutrition and health, excessive consumption of animal source food items (ASF), particularly certain types is associated with health risks. Nutritional knowledge and misconceptions about ASF are among the factors that affect the type and level of consumption. This study investigates the nutrition knowledge and misconceptions about the ASF among different demographic segments of Sri Lanka. Research Method : The sample comprised of 361 randomly selected respondents. Each respondent was asked to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed on 20 knowledge-testing statements and to the extent they were certain about the each of the answers- in a four point Likert scale ranging from completely uncertain to completely certain. Findings : Nutritional knowledge score was as low as 34%. Gender and age had no significant effect on knowledge score. Tamils, Hindus, rural dwellers and respondents of lower education levels reported lower knowledge scores. Almost one in four believed that brown eggs are more nutritious than white. Around 16% respondents believed that even for a healthy adult an egg a day is unsafe. Older and rural respondents opined brown eggs were more nutritious while relatively younger urban segment was more concern about egg consumption level. As high as 19% of the respondents failed to recognize the nutritional superiority of fresh milk over powdered milk. Limitations : Though the sample comprised all main ethnic, religious and dwelling categories, it was drawn only from two administrative districts. Originality/Value : The study revealed that Sri Lankans still have low nutrition knowledge and hold a number of misconceptions about the ASF and, identifies the awareness programs particularly targeting rural and less educated social segments 2018-05-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1011 Perception of Maize Processors Towards Utilization of Maize Value Addition Techniques: Implications for Rural Entrepreneurship Development – A Study in Nigeria Alabi, D. L; Akintola, O. M; Famakinwa, M Purpose: Huge losses in maize production lead to reduction in farmers’ income and food insecurity. However, it is expected that the value chain approach would provide processors with actionable methods capable of increasing productivity and income. However, maize producers and processors in the study area are still faced with post-harvest wastages and limited products along maize value chain; Hence, the study. Research Method: The data for this study were gathered through an interview schedule from 120 maize processors in Nigeria. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as frequency counts, means, standard deviations chi-square and correlation analyses were used to analyze the data Findings: The results revealed that majority were female with the mean monthly income was N 51,000.33. A total of 17 value addition techniques were identified and indigenous ones include pap making (39.5%) and solid gel making (32.5%). Majority were small scale local processors producing for their immediate communities and where almost equal numbers of processors were operating either on part time or full time basis. 56.7% had a favorable perception towards the utilization of maize value addition techniques. Sex and occupation had a significant association while years of schooling and income had significant relationships with the perception towards the utilization of maize value addition. Research limitations: The study was limited in that it did not cover all the geographical zones in Nigeria since there was no grant to support the research. Originality/value: The study identified different maize value addition techniques utilized by the processors and the characteristics of the enterprise in the study area. 2018-05-01T00:00:00Z