Citation:Shammika, D. L. A. H., De Silva, T. A. V. & Jayamali, L. U. C. C. (2021). Agrisilviculture for Improved Food Sovereignty and Enhance Livelihood Development : Monaragala District, Madulla Divisional Secretariat Araluwinna Village. 18th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. 61 .
Date:2021-03-03
Abstract:
Araluwinna Village in Madulla Divisional Secretariat of Monaragala district is an agrarian village. One of the objectives of this research is to explore livelihood development avenues in its rich ecological and cultural resource base. The research question was set as how efficient is the current agricultural practices in improving peoples’ quality of life and what alternative lively hood strategies could help them in doing so. The case study method was utilized to explore the socio-cultural and economic realities of people living in this village.In-depth and semi-structured interviews, field observations and secondary data sources were the main methods used to collect data. Among the 38 families living in the village 33 families are Samurdhi beneficiaries. The socio-economic conditions of the people and infrastructure development in the village are at a low level. The economic status has recently been degraded further with the loss of opportunities to conduct Chena cultivation. The current land issues pertaining to the village farming has been identified as a manifestation of governmental policies towards land use and crop cultivation. Land issues in Monaragala district have been at the forefront of many environmental and agricultural forums held in past decades. In this background, this study identified the traditional farming systems in the village as having features of Agri-silviculture. There have been positive aspects of this way of agri-silviculture for improved food sovereignty. The economical, environmental and psychological benefits of the Agriculture have been elicited from Araluwinna village. The potential for agro-tourism in this variety of agriculture was identified with many other potentials to develop eco-tourism and adventure tourism in the village. Today we are facing many hazardous effects of myopic practices of agriculture introduced following the green revolution. Food sovereignty is now shown by research for sustainable agricultural development. This research found that the Araluwinna village had food sovereignty achieved through agro-silviculture and now they are being dragged to a disadvantageous position from precluding their yearlong practices. It also discusses how the country’s neoliberal land use and agriculture policies brought about this transformation.
