http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7517 2026-04-26T17:09:26Z 2026-04-26T17:09:26Z Krishnal Thirumarpan http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19775 2025-07-09T10:05:52Z 2015-02-20T00:00:00Z

Determinants of household food security of paddy farmers in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka. Krishnal Thirumarpan Declining crop productivity and farm income in Sri Lanka forced rural households to adopt various coping mechanisms to mitigate the food insecurity status. This study aimed to analyze the paddy farmer’s coping behaviors, food security status and the determinants of food security. Food security was measured using coping strategies index and multinomial logistic regression was done to analyze the determinants of food security. Results revealed that, mean monthly income of the household was Rs. 13, 104.33. Almost all the households adopted various coping mechanisms. 30% of households were in food insecure condition. Multinomial logistic regression results revealed that family size, education level of the head of the household and total monthly income significantly influence the food security status. When household monthly income increases, the odds ratio to be food secure and moderately food secure increases by one. Considering the diversity of coping strategies employed in the study area, policy instruments should be designed to improve the income level coupled with proper education and thereby to improve the food security status among rural household in Batticaloa district.

2015-02-20T00:00:00Z Silva, L.N.S. Perea, P.C.D. Senanayake, S.G.J.N. Dahanayake, Nilanthi http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8128 2024-10-30T04:20:59Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL FOR MICROPROPAGATION OF Calotropis gigantean (L.) (WARA) Silva, L.N.S.; Perea, P.C.D.; Senanayake, S.G.J.N.; Dahanayake, Nilanthi Calotropis gigantea (Wara) is one of the least concerned native plant in Sri Lanka. Because of its high pharmaceu tical application and other usage, this species has been over exploited and included in the Red list since year 2012. The present study was carried out to develop a protocol to produce healthy plantlets of C. gigantea. Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) (0, ¼, ½, ¾ and full MS) were tested to select the best medium for in vitro seed germina tion. To determine the best explant and 6-Benzyl amino purine (BAP) concentration for micro propagation, in vitro shoot tip, stem without node, stem with node, leaf and root were tested with different concentrations of BAP (0, 1 mg/l, 2 mg/l, 3 mg/l, 4 mg/l, 5 mg/l and 6 mg/l) and 0.1 mg/l NAA. Agar and Corn flour were used to gelati nize the medium. To determine the proper maturity level of plantlet, 1, 1 ½, 2, 2 ½ and 3 months old plants were tested. Then regenerated shoots were transferred to different IBA (Indole 3-butyric acid) concentrations (0, 0.5 mg/l, 1 mg/l and 2 mg/l) for rooting. Ten replicates per each treatment were used in every experiment. Data were analyzed according to 2 factor factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using SAS statistical software. The medium with agar (without MS) showed the highest seed germination of 72% while the medium containing full MS showed the lowest seed germination of 34%. Significantly higher number of shoots (2.4) was observed from MS medium with 2 mg/l BAP + 0.1 NAA + Agar within 11days, showing 100% regeneration from stem with node. When corn flour was used instead of agar for the above medium, shoots regeneration was 2.7 within 17 days. One month old explant (stem with node) showed significantly higher number of shoots (2.0) whereas three month old explant showed lowest number of shoots (0.8). The highest number of roots (3.4) was observed from 1mg/l IBA +MS + Agar. However, with corn flour instead of agar, average number of roots was 4.4. Considering these observations it could be concluded that, Agar is suitable as a medium for seed germination, and stem with node is the best explant to produce large number of healthy shoots. The best BAP concentration for shoot regener ation was 2mg/l BAP+0.1mg/l NAA, while 1mg/l IBA was good for rooting. One month old explants were better than matured explants and corn flour was better compared with agar in increasing the growth and development of C. gigantea.

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z Alao, OluwagbengaTitus Alabi, Dorcas Lola Oni, Temitope Sarah Famakinwa, Michael http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8126 2022-09-07T04:08:42Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN BLACK SOAP ENTERPRISE IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA Alao, OluwagbengaTitus; Alabi, Dorcas Lola; Oni, Temitope Sarah; Famakinwa, Michael Black soap production is an indigenous income generating enterprise that confers self-sufficiency on producing household and capable of reducing poverty among rural women. The study therefore, assessed women’s involve ment in black soap production in Osun State, Nigeria. It specifically described the demographic characteristics, determined the profitability of the enterprise and its contribution to their livelihood, community attitude, and identified constraints limiting women involvement in the enterprise. Snowball sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Interview schedule was used to collect primary data from the respondents while descriptive and correlation statistical tools were used for the data analysis. Findings revealed that majority (90 %) of the respondents were married with mean age of 48.9 years. Majority (79.2%) acquired black soap pro cessing skills from their parents. The results of gross margin analysis also revealed that TR, TVC and GM were ₦12,617.50, ₦10,695.80, and ₦1,921.70, respectively. The results also indicated that black soap contributed mostly to feeding (64.2 %), clothing (58.8 %) and housing (41.2 %). Above half (52.2 %) of the respondents were highly involved in black soap production activities while 81.7 % indicated favourable community attitude towards the enterprise. Also, scarcity of water during dry season (mean=2.78) and inadequate finance (mean=2.28) were the major constraints limiting women involvement in the enterprise. In conclusion, Ministry of women affairs, Nigeria should give considerable attention to address the identified constraints in order to enhance the development of the enterprise.

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z Adisa, B.O. Ojerinde, O.A. Famakinwa, M. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8124 2024-10-09T04:13:36Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

FACTORS INFLUENCING YOUTHS’ UTILIZATION OF UNDERUTILIZED INDIGENOUS VEGETABLE INNOVATIONS AS A LIVELIHOOD STRATEGY IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA Adisa, B.O.; Ojerinde, O.A.; Famakinwa, M. Underutilized indigenous vegetables (UIVs) play a highly significant role in food security, employment creation and income generation for the youth in both urban and rural settings in fighting against poverty and hunger. However, certain factors are responsible for youths’ utilization of these innovations in producing these vegetables. The study therefore, focused on factors influencing youths’ utilization of UIV innovation as a sustainable liveli hood strategy in Southwestern Nigeria. A multistage stage sampling procedure was used to select the respondents. Data were gathered through structured interview schedule from 155 youths between the age of eighteen to forty years. Data were analyzed using appropriate descriptive statistical tools while factor analysis was used to isolate crucial factors influencing youths’ utilization of UIV innovations. The result showed that the respondents had a mean age of 28.3 years while above half (52.9% and 58.1%) were male and single, respectively. The mean annual income from vegetable production was $ 305.81 with the mean farm size of 0.8 ha. Further results indicated that site selection, marketing and storage were the major UIV innovations utilized by the respondents. Majority (68.4%) utilized UIV innovations at moderate level. Educational, experience, economic benefit, institutional sup port and community factors were the crucial factors influencing youth utilization of UIVs innovations. Relevant stakeholders should promote utilization of UIV innovations among young farmers as a sustainable livelihood strategy.

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z