Volume 23 (2020)
http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/xmlui/handle/iruor/7527
2024-03-29T07:35:49ZASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AMONG YAM MARKETERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/xmlui/handle/iruor/8575
ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AMONG YAM MARKETERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
Salau, SA; Omotosho, SA
Public relations (PR) is often overlooked in agricultural marketing and organization. Less priority on PR is
usually an indication of poor management that results in inefficient and high labor turnover. This research paper
highlights the importance of PR, its determinants in yam marketing and outlines the major challenges hindering
the use of PR. A two-stage sampling method was used to select 177 respondents from a total of 299 marketers.
Data were collected with the aid of a structured interview schedule. The results revealed that marketers use
different PR strategies and the most frequently used PR strategies were phone calls and retailers’ association. The
market concentration index was developed to determine the structure of yam markets. The value 0.013, indicates
that the yam market was perfectly competitive and non-concentrated. The marketing efficiency is 128.61 percent
depicts that the wholesale yam marketers in Lagos state were efficient. The market margin of 22.24% reveals that
every 1 USD sale resulted in a price spread oc 0.22 USD in the wholesale yam marketing. The variables explaining
PR strategies are shop size, cost of spoiled yam, the distance of market to the state capital, shop rent and
household size. The major challenges hindering the use of PR are a disregard for PR strategies and poor training
opportunities. We recommend the use of mobile phone technology and the training of marketers on the use of PR
strategies. Weak network and high airtime tariff challenges should be addressed by the government to reduce
wastage and mitigate the effects of poor sales on the marketing margin of yam marketers
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZEFFECTIVENESS OF IOT BASED AUTOMATION SYSTEM FOR SALAD CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus) CULTIVATION IN PROTECTED HOUSE UNDER SRI LANKAN CONDITIONS
http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/xmlui/handle/iruor/8571
EFFECTIVENESS OF IOT BASED AUTOMATION SYSTEM FOR SALAD CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus) CULTIVATION IN PROTECTED HOUSE UNDER SRI LANKAN CONDITIONS
Jayathilaka, SNA; Adikaram, KKLB; Kumarasinghe, HKMS
Protected house cultivation is one of the best solutions to address food security and overcome the scarcity of land
and other resources in the future. An automation system with the Internet of Things (IoT) will be the most
effective way to maintain a protected house with minimum labours. This research was mainly focused to
determine the effectiveness of IoT based automation system for protected house cultivation of salad cucumber in
Sri Lanka and validation of temperature and relative humidity sensors used in this system. The study was carried
out in two protected houses with the same crop management practices. An IoT-based automation system was
designed to control temperature and relative humidity inside the protected house. Fertigation was done several
times a day by an automation system for the automated protected house to control electrical conductivity in grow
bags. Temperature, RH, EC, and light intensity were recorded by using sensors and standard methods in different
periods. Temperature and RH values measured from sensors and standard methods were not significantly
different during the experimental period. Therefore, used temperature and RH sensors were valid for this system.
Temperature, RH, and EC values were significantly different in two protected houses and the automated
protected house was maintaining those conditions near to the desired levels for salad cucumber. There was a 40%
yield increment in the automated protected house than the conventional protected house. Based on the findings,
IoT based automation system is effective to use with protected house cultivation of salad cucumber in the southern
province of Sri Lanka.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZIMPACT OF THE ADOPTION OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON TEA BUSH DEBILITATION IN TWO SMALLHOLDING RANGES IN GALLE DISTRICT SRI LANKA
http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/xmlui/handle/iruor/8568
IMPACT OF THE ADOPTION OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON TEA BUSH DEBILITATION IN TWO SMALLHOLDING RANGES IN GALLE DISTRICT SRI LANKA
Mahindapala, KGJP; Mahinda, TGN; Jayarathna, SPAPK; De Alwis, PDA
It was reported that tea bushes of smallholdings in some areas were debilitated and are expressing certain stress
symptoms. This study attempted to understand the technology adoption level among the tea smallholders in
Neluwa and Udugama ranges and to examine their tea bush debilitation status and identify possible attributes.
Data were collected from randomly selected smallholdings. Cultivation history, technology adoption, and field
problems were identified by using a structured questionnaire and were statistically analyzed. Results show that
stress symptoms appeared in 75% of the holdings from a low to a moderate acuteness level and mostly distributed
less than 30% of the lands investigated. However, in certain cases, there has been an impact on the yield. Results
revealed that the adoption level of some of the GAPs is not at a satisfactory level and was identified as one of the
attributes of debilitation. It was found that certain pests such as Lowcountry live wood termite, Canker, Wood rot, and Horsehair blight are significantly contributing to the problem. About 28% of parasitic nematode
incidents were detected, which could make a serious consequence under the poor crop management strategies.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZEFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC LIQUID FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF Centella asiatica (L.) AND Capsicum annuum (L.) VAR. annuum
http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/xmlui/handle/iruor/8565
EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC LIQUID FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF Centella asiatica (L.) AND Capsicum annuum (L.) VAR. annuum
Ekanayake, EMUI; Eranga, GAS; Fernando, KMC
The present study was conducted to find out the effect of liquid organic fertilizers and synthetic inorganic
fertilizer on the growth and yield of Centella asiatica (L.) (Sinhala; Gotukola) and Capsicum annuum (L.) var.
annuum (green chilli). Two experiments were set up according to randomized complete block design with six
replicates for each plant species in a protected plant house at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna.
Four organic liquid fertilizers (Vermiwash, Fish tonic, Jeevamruta and Compost tea) together with Albert’s
solution as synthetic liquid fertilizer were used as treatments. The number of leaves, fresh weight of leaves, dry
weight of leaves, average length of the stalk, fresh weight and dry weight of the roots were taken as growth
parameters of C. asiatica while the plant height, stem girth, number of pods and fresh weight of pods were
recorded in C. annuum. The measured parameters for C. asiatica were not significantly different in Albert’s
solution, compost tea, jeevamruta and fish tonic while lower values were recorded in vermiwash. The girth of the
stem was high in Albert’s solution and fish tonic treated plants while the plant height was high in Albert’s solution
treated plants at flowering. However, the highest number of pods per plant and the fresh weight of pods per plant
were recorded only by fish tonic treated plants in C. annuum var. annuum. The liquid organic fertilizers found to
be effective replacement to the synthetic liquid fertilizer, Albert’s solution to improve crop growth of C. asiatica L.
and yield of C. annuum var. annuum.
2020-01-01T00:00:00Z