Proceedings of the National Conference on Water, Food Security and Climate Change in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9-11 June 2009. Vol. 2. Water quality, environment and climate change

This is the second volume of the proceedings of the National Conference on ‘Water for Food and Environment’, which was held from June 9 –11, 2009 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The volumes 1 and 3 have been produced as separate documents of this report series. In response to a call for abstracts, 81 abstracts were received from government institutes dealing with water resources and agriculture development, universities, other freelance researchers and researchers from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Forty seven of the eighty-one abstracts that were submitted were accepted for compiling full papers. In the past couple of years the sharp increase in food prices worldwide has raised serious concerns about food security, especially in developing countries. To effectively address these concerns a holistic approach is required that encompasses improved agricultural water productivity, adaptation to climate change, targeted and appropriate institutional and financial measures, and a consideration of environmental issues. The main purpose of the conference was to share experiences in these areas and to find opportunities to improve farmers’ incomes and food production, and to promote environmentally sustainable practices in Sri Lanka in the face of growing water scarcity and the challenges of climate change.Wetlands, / Environmental flows / Assessment / Water allocation / Case studies / Rivers / Farming systems / Models / Groundwater / Aquifers / Domestic water / Rainfed farming / Climate change / Wastewater irrigation / Rice

Proceedings of the National Conference on Water, Food Security and Climate Change in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9-11 June 2009. Vol. 1. Irrigation for food security

Food security / Climate change / River basins / Water shortage / Irrigated farming / Water quality / Tanks / Aquatic plants / Rice / Food insecurity / Water resource management / Zero tillage / Weed control / Agroforestry / Canals / Surface runoff / Remote sensing / Sri Lanka

Sustainable agriculture and responsible use of pesticides: commercial crop cultivators’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice perspectives regarding pesticide use

The excessive use of pesticides has been identified as a main barrier to sustainable agriculture in the developing countries, that can lead to several negative consequences, posing a significant threat to the total environment. Therefore, the present study investigated the informedness of smallholder vegetable farmers on responsible use of pesticides, exploring how their knowledge, attitudes and protective practices (KAP) are associated with the safe use of pesticides. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 206 smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Sri Lanka to identify how KAP are associated with responsible use of pesticides. Secondly, two focus group discussion were conducted to gain insights into the farmers’ awareness of the responsible use of pesticides. The analysis reveals an overall deficiency in informedness about responsible pesticide use, primarily stemming from moderate level of knowledge and perceptions related to protective practices. Furthermore, farmers tend to face constraints due to limited access to information on responsible use of pesticides and a heavy reliance on pesticides, believing pesticides to be a primary means of increasing crops. Results also indicate a significant association between knowledge, practice, and informedness, whereas attitudes did not significantly contribute to informedness. Significant disparities in informedness were identified among different demographic groups, with men and younger farmers exhibiting higher levels of awareness. Thus, we suggest that farmers’ informedness can be improved by targeted efforts to enhance their knowledge and correct misconceptions on the use of pesticides

Improving value chains of selected underutilized crops for the economic well-being of smallholder farmers in South-Eastern Sri Lanka

Underutilized crops are widely recognized for their socio-economic, nutritional, and agrobiodiversity values. Studies on underutilized crop farming systems and value chains in Sri Lanka are limited. The research had been undertaken to investigate the underutilized crops in smallholder farming systems, economic contributions, and existing value chains. Primary data were collected from 30 Gramaniladari divisions (GN Divisions) located in twelve Divisional Secretariat (DS) from Uva and Eastern administrative provinces of Sri Lanka. A summary of the different chapters is presented below. Chapter One: Introduction At the onset of this chapter, I have attempted to correlate the global trends toward commercial agriculture and its negative influences on rural farming. In order to do so, I have further tried to see the context of Sri Lanka’s development transition where the agricultural sector plays a decreasing but considerable contribution to the rural sector. Since the rural agricultural sector is considerably dominated by smallholder farmers and underutilized crops, the role of underutilized crops for the economic well-being of them is an important area for in-depth study. I reviewed past researchers’ works related to underutilized crops in Sri Lanka, Asian countries as well as the rest of the world. Based on the review of the literature, I found the research gap of the study. Following the research gap, I formulated four research questions for this study. Chapter Two: Review of literature In this chapter, I have extensively reviewed the literature for the construction of the research framework. At the onset of the chapter, I briefly reviewed the evolution of agriculture and different underutilized crop farming systems. The role of the agricultural sector in rural development was reviewed and explored the performance of the agricultural sector in the Sri Lankan economy. I reviewed different concepts around underutilized crops, farming systems value chains, and smallholders. Second, I discussed the smallholder farming environment in the world. The discussion explored the characteristics of the smallholder farming sector and its potentials for farming underutilized crops. After that, I discussed different value chain concepts and the operation of value chains in the broader operating environment. This discussion further narrowed-down to explore the nature of agricultural value chains and some specific features of those chains. Third, the discussion focuses on the concept of value chain analysis and different common and specific tools that can be adopted in different value chain environments and value chain governance. Chapter Three: The common and potential underutilized crops in smallholders’ farms of south-eastern Sri Lanka: Impact on farmers’ economy and food security In this chapter, I conducted farmers’ household surveys and key informant interviews in Uva and Eastern provinces. At the very beginning, I used the key actor's perceptions of underutilized crops to define underutilized crops refer to the study region. Based on this definition, this chapter further extended to see the main farming systems, land use patterns, underutilized crop composition of farming systems, and the economic contribution of underutilized crops in household economics by identifying high potential underutilized crop for each region. The result indicated that the substantial availability of underutilized crops and contribute to the economic well-being of the farmers. However, the main perception of underutilized crops among involving actors are pretty much related to the current contextual health and nutritional issues in rural Sri Lanka. Chapter Four: Operation of primary and supporting components of selected high potential underutilized crops Identification of high potential underutilized crops brings the path to narrow-down this study by a focus on three main underutilized crops (Finger millet, Red cowpea, and Cashew). This chapter covers mainly production and marketing insights of the selected underutilized crops. To do so at the very beginning the chapter explores the nature of the current farming cycle of those selected crops. The major discussion of the chapter covers the distribution of selected crops in farming systems, the economics of production by exploring primary and supporting activities, and the existing market system. The results indicated that the value chains of underutilized crops are mainly reflected by producers, collectors, whole sellers, and retailers. The middle of the value nodes was complex and composed of several linkages. Farmers allocate a considerable extent of their lands and a significant amount of labour for the selected crop production. Those crops reflect reasonable economic potentials where their family labour plays a significant contribution. Chapter Five: Economic returns on key value chain actors, constraints, and development potentials of high potential underutilized crops By conducting key informant interviews and focus group discussions this chapter attempts to explore further identification of factors insight the existing inefficiencies of the value chains and to see the ways to overcome those inefficiencies. At the very beginning of this chapter explored value addition and value distribution characteristics among actors in selected crop value chains. This economic insight is further strengthened by identifying underlying causes, constraints, and visible consequences in the market systems of each selected crops. The findings showed different reasons behind the poor performances of the selected crop markets by enlightening the potential areas for development by adopting the most relevant interventions. Chapter Six: General discussion and conclusion In this chapter, I have conducted three main discussions such as a) key findings of the study by briefly describing major findings, b) key issues and existing challenges in sustainable farming as well as marking of underutilized crop products, c) main limitations of the study with conclusions and recommendations. The comparison of farming systems characteristics and economic contribution of two different study sites as well as the market systems of the selected underutilized crops show several common and specific features that need adjustments for the economic well-being of the farmers. This dissertation also has several academic contributions. Most importantly the findings bring local definition for underutilized crops while recognises high potential underutilized crops for each region. Market actors who are involved in business and their roles are identified to see the broader market environment. The findings open-up sustainable intensification potentials where new researchers may be interested

Improving value chains of selected underutilized crops for the economic well-being of smallholder farmers in South-Eastern Sri Lanka

Underutilized crops are widely recognized for their socio-economic, nutritional, and agrobiodiversity values. Studies on underutilized crop farming systems and value chains in Sri Lanka are limited. The research had been undertaken to investigate the underutilized crops in smallholder farming systems, economic contributions, and existing value chains. Primary data were collected from 30 Gramaniladari divisions (GN Divisions) located in twelve Divisional Secretariat (DS) from Uva and Eastern administrative provinces of Sri Lanka. A summary of the different chapters is presented below. Chapter One: Introduction At the onset of this chapter, I have attempted to correlate the global trends toward commercial agriculture and its negative influences on rural farming. In order to do so, I have further tried to see the context of Sri Lanka’s development transition where the agricultural sector plays a decreasing but considerable contribution to the rural sector. Since the rural agricultural sector is considerably dominated by smallholder farmers and underutilized crops, the role of underutilized crops for the economic well-being of them is an important area for in-depth study. I reviewed past researchers’ works related to underutilized crops in Sri Lanka, Asian countries as well as the rest of the world. Based on the review of the literature, I found the research gap of the study. Following the research gap, I formulated four research questions for this study. Chapter Two: Review of literature In this chapter, I have extensively reviewed the literature for the construction of the research framework. At the onset of the chapter, I briefly reviewed the evolution of agriculture and different underutilized crop farming systems. The role of the agricultural sector in rural development was reviewed and explored the performance of the agricultural sector in the Sri Lankan economy. I reviewed different concepts around underutilized crops, farming systems value chains, and smallholders. Second, I discussed the smallholder farming environment in the world. The discussion explored the characteristics of the smallholder farming sector and its potentials for farming underutilized crops. After that, I discussed different value chain concepts and the operation of value chains in the broader operating environment. This discussion further narrowed-down to explore the nature of agricultural value chains and some specific features of those chains. Third, the discussion focuses on the concept of value chain analysis and different common and specific tools that can be adopted in different value chain environments and value chain governance. Chapter Three: The common and potential underutilized crops in smallholders’ farms of south-eastern Sri Lanka: Impact on farmers’ economy and food security In this chapter, I conducted farmers’ household surveys and key informant interviews in Uva and Eastern provinces. At the very beginning, I used the key actor's perceptions of underutilized crops to define underutilized crops refer to the study region. Based on this definition, this chapter further extended to see the main farming systems, land use patterns, underutilized crop composition of farming systems, and the economic contribution of underutilized crops in household economics by identifying high potential underutilized crop for each region. The result indicated that the substantial availability of underutilized crops and contribute to the economic well-being of the farmers. However, the main perception of underutilized crops among involving actors are pretty much related to the current contextual health and nutritional issues in rural Sri Lanka. Chapter Four: Operation of primary and supporting components of selected high potential underutilized crops Identification of high potential underutilized crops brings the path to narrow-down this study by a focus on three main underutilized crops (Finger millet, Red cowpea, and Cashew). This chapter covers mainly production and marketing insights of the selected underutilized crops. To do so at the very beginning the chapter explores the nature of the current farming cycle of those selected crops. The major discussion of the chapter covers the distribution of selected crops in farming systems, the economics of production by exploring primary and supporting activities, and the existing market system. The results indicated that the value chains of underutilized crops are mainly reflected by producers, collectors, whole sellers, and retailers. The middle of the value nodes was complex and composed of several linkages. Farmers allocate a considerable extent of their lands and a significant amount of labour for the selected crop production. Those crops reflect reasonable economic potentials where their family labour plays a significant contribution. Chapter Five: Economic returns on key value chain actors, constraints, and development potentials of high potential underutilized crops By conducting key informant interviews and focus group discussions this chapter attempts to explore further identification of factors insight the existing inefficiencies of the value chains and to see the ways to overcome those inefficiencies. At the very beginning of this chapter explored value addition and value distribution characteristics among actors in selected crop value chains. This economic insight is further strengthened by identifying underlying causes, constraints, and visible consequences in the market systems of each selected crops. The findings showed different reasons behind the poor performances of the selected crop markets by enlightening the potential areas for development by adopting the most relevant interventions. Chapter Six: General discussion and conclusion In this chapter, I have conducted three main discussions such as a) key findings of the study by briefly describing major findings, b) key issues and existing challenges in sustainable farming as well as marking of underutilized crop products, c) main limitations of the study with conclusions and recommendations. The comparison of farming systems characteristics and economic contribution of two different study sites as well as the market systems of the selected underutilized crops show several common and specific features that need adjustments for the economic well-being of the farmers. This dissertation also has several academic contributions. Most importantly the findings bring local definition for underutilized crops while recognises high potential underutilized crops for each region. Market actors who are involved in business and their roles are identified to see the broader market environment. The findings open-up sustainable intensification potentials where new researchers may be interested

Effect of physically structured water on extractability of caffeine, curcumin and on oil emulsification

Agriculture is a science of applications which has wide horizons to explore. Research gives the exploring opportunity for young scientists to begin their own paths to travel the world of agriculture widening its customary horizons. Research culture embedded in agriculture is the secret behind facing multifaceted challenges of today, among which meeting the needs of an expanding, especially rapidly urbanizing population of the world under increasingly vulnerable environment. With a futuristic vision, grooming young scientists with research culture and providing an opportunity for them to unveil the findings in front of the able audience, is a great leap that Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya is taking in its expedition of Agriculture higher education

Success Stories in Asian Aquaculture

The stories presented in this book reflect the unique nature of Asian aquaculture, providing first-time insight into how and why it has become so successful. Overall, the book demonstrates how the resiliency, adaptability, and innovation of small-scale aquaculture farmers have been crucial to this success. It also places aquaculture development in Asia into a wider global context, and describes its relationship to natural systems, social conditions, and economics. The book is unique in its in-depth presentation of primary research on Asian aquaculture, and in demonstrating how aquaculture can have a lasting positive impact on livelihoods, food security, and sustainable development

Local perceptions of environmental change in a tropical coastal wetland: The case of Koggala Lagoon, Galle, Sri Lanka.

Tropical coastal wetlands are under ecological stress, most notably due to accelerated development activities associated with these areas. Consequently, natural resource depletion and environmental problems in the coastal sector are increasingly serious issues, particularly in South and South East Asia, and have significant implications for their traditional resource-user groups. This thesis is primarily based on a detailed investigation of the inter-relationships between environmental change and local perception of change at Koggala, Galle, southern Sri Lanka, where six sample Divisions bordering Koggala Lagoon were selected for in-depth study. Multi-disciplinary techniques from both the natural and the social sciences were employed, focusing on the environmental changes involved and on the perceptions of these changes by local fishing and farming communities. Particular attention was paid to changes in agriculture, to the reconfiguration of a coastal sand bar, and to the development of a Free Trade Zone. Participatory techniques involved the experimental use of group discussions. Visits were made to Malaysia and Thailand for comparative study purposes. Results show that the fringing mangrove complex is currently threatened by a number of factors and that sand mining close to the lagoon outlet has severely disrupted water levels in the lagoon and ultimately rice-farming systems. The fishing community further perceives significant declines in their fish catch, attributing this to the loss of fishery nursery sites and to the seepage of agro-chemicals, some belonging to highly toxic groups, into the lagoon. It is clear that local communities display a high degree of awareness of environmental change, as well as of the causes of this change. Such understanding can be used to develop local-level adaptive planning for wetland management. The use of discussion groups is seen as a novel approach to such wetland management programmes in the tropics