http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7540 2026-04-26T18:32:56Z 2026-04-26T18:32:56Z Kodikara, M.H. Perumpuli, P.A.B.N. Silva, K.N.N. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8766 2024-10-24T06:49:34Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

CONSUMER AWARENESS ON NUTRITION FACT PANEL OF DAIRY FOOD PRODUCTS: A CONTEXT OF URBAN, SEMI-URBAN AND RURAL CONSUMERS IN SRI LANKA Kodikara, M.H.; Perumpuli, P.A.B.N.; Silva, K.N.N. A detailed nutrition fact panel is one of the best ways that can encourage consumers to make good decisions with regard to their eating habits. Nutrition fact communicates the information on nutrients available in a particular food. Past studies mainly focused on common food label information. However, the nutritional information is directly related to the healthy life of humans. Therefore the present study was conducted to analyse consumers’ awareness on nutrition fact panel while eliciting major sources and barriers to awareness. Further, the study identifies socio-demographic characteristics of consumers related to nutrition fact panel awareness and thereby develops appropriate suggestions and recommendations to scale up the awareness and fill the nutrition labelling information knowledge gap for the consumer benefit. A semi-structured Google questionnaire was used to collect information from a purposive sample of 135 consumers purchasing packed dairy food products from local supermarkets in Colombo, Matara, and Monaragala districts in a way to represent urban, semi-urban and rural areas respectively. It was found that the consumers in Colombo (P=0.01), Matara (P=0.024), and Monaragala (P=0.030) districts are having a significant awareness of nutritional fact panels and their information. Consumers who purchase dairy products from supermarket outlets in all three districts stated that they always look at the sugar level and fat level when purchasing dairy food items. The selected consumers stated that they face inconveniences in understanding the nutrition fact panel due to the used scientific or technical terms and the unfamiliar language. They reveal that it is important to uplift their knowledge through creating colourful and attractive labels (20.9%), and advertisements (18.7%) via mass media. Consumers stated that indication of fat (P=0.000) and sugar (P=0.000) level with colour code is extremely useful. Results revealed that front of pack nutrition labelling as the best way to increase consumer awareness on food label. The study therefore seeks to address the issue of how consumers use food nutrition label information and its effect on the purchasing decision of consumers. The outcomes of the study are helpful for policy makers in formulating policies for the benefit of both food producers in their marketing strategies and consumers to make healthy food choices.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Shanadi, A.T. Samaraweera, G.C. Wathugala, G.C. Indika, W.A. Munasignhe, S.M. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8756 2024-10-23T06:40:59Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE-BASED GUIDELINE MODEL OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR POTATO FARMERS IN SRI LANKA Shanadi, A.T.; Samaraweera, G.C.; Wathugala, G.C.; Indika, W.A.; Munasignhe, S.M. Potato is the most popular root crop and represents a significant portion of the world’s food requirements. However, it has been notified that the quality and safety of potatoes produced in Sri Lanka suffer from inappropriate farming practices. Therefore, this study aims to develop a mobile-based guideline model of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) by reviewing a present farming practice in potato cultivation and to explore farmers’ view on GAPs for potato production in Sri Lanka. The GAPs based guideline model was designed according to the Design Science Research methodology with primary and secondary data, which obtained from 225 potato farmers through a pre-tested structured questionnaire, formal and informal discussions. Then designed model was verified and validated through domain experts. Finally, information and guidance in the designed model is fed through a mobile application. Interestingly, 96% of farmers have a general idea on GAPs, 98% are willing to know about GAPs and the majority (92%) like to follow guidelines based on GAPs. Moreover, age (p=0.000), education level (p=0.001), farming experiences (p=0.008) and willingness to know GAPs (p=0.000), were affect significantly on farmer willingness to follow GAPs through the mobile-based application system. Moreover, the farming practices attached with the usage of synthetic chemicals and fertilizer, soil fertility management, postharvest handling were not properly practiced (78%). Further, spearmen correlation analysis showed that age (p=0.000), education level (p=0.014), and farming experiences (p=0.000), were affect significantly on farmers’ awareness of GAPs. The findings shed a green light for introducing a mobile-based guideline model to provide actionable information and guidance of GAPs to the farmers through a “Govi Nena” real-time mobile based application. Further it supports farmers to overcome improper farming practices of potato cultivation in Sri Lanka that ultimately enhancing the potato production in Sri Lankan context.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Tasmin, Tahera Hossain, Ismail Khan, Aminul Islam Monjil, Mohammad Shahjahan http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8752 2024-10-23T06:53:21Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

ASSOCIATION OF Colletotrichum gloeosporioides WITH PREMATURE FRUIT DROPPING OF MANGO (Mangifera indica L.) AND ITS IN VITRO CONTROL USING SELECTED PLANT EXTRACTS, PHYTOHOMONES AND FUNGICIDES Tasmin, Tahera; Hossain, Ismail; Khan, Aminul Islam; Monjil, Mohammad Shahjahan The present study was performed to determine the pathogenic cause of mango fruit drop and its in-vitro control through the application of plant extracts, phytohormones, and chemical fungicides. The prematurely fallen fruits at the pin-head stage, pea stage and marble stage were taken for pathogen isolation. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was identified as the pathogenic cause and several isolates were established. Based on consistent mycelial growth in PDA culture media, one isolate was chosen for in-vitro management study using various treatments. Six plant extracts, two phytohormones viz. NAA, 2,4-D, and six chemical fungicides were tested against C. gloeosporioides. With three treatments, namely garlic clove, allamonda leaf and mahogany leaf extracts, mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was not observed for seven days of study. In comparison to the control treatment, a significantly lower mycelial growth was found with both neem leaf extract and marigold leaf extract. Garlic clove extract, allamonda leaf extract and mahogany leaf extract showed the highest percent growth inhibition (100%) of C. gloeosporioides at 7 DAI in compared to the control treatment. In case of NAA and 2,4-D application in PDA, mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was not detected also. As a result, extracts of garlic clove, neem leaf, allamonda leaf, mahagoni leaf, NAA and 2,4-D as well as chemical fungicides can be introduced in field conditions to assess their effectiveness in controlling premature fruit drop of mango caused by C. gloeosporioides.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Gunawardhana, W.P.D.S. Perera, P.I.P. Muhandiram, H.M.A.P. Swarnathilaka, D.B.R. Priyadarshani, K.D.N. http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8749 2024-10-22T07:34:45Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

SURFACE STERILIZATION PROTOCOLS OF LEAF AND BUD EXPLANTS FOR INITIATING IN VITRO CULTURES OF Piper nigrum L. (PEPPER) Gunawardhana, W.P.D.S.; Perera, P.I.P.; Muhandiram, H.M.A.P.; Swarnathilaka, D.B.R.; Priyadarshani, K.D.N. Piper nigrum L. is traditionally propagated by stem cuttings and seeds, but seeds tend to produce progenies with higher variations due to cross-pollination habits. Plant tissue culture technique is the most efficient and reliable method for rapid clonal multiplication, however, endophyte microbial contamination limits the success. Twelve surface sterilization protocols were tested on two bud types (apical and axillary buds) and three different maturity stages of the leaf (first, third and fifth leaves) to optimize the conditions for culture initiation. The Completely Randomized Design was used with 60 explants. Maximum likelihood analysis of variance was conducted using the Proc CatMod procedures of PC-SAS to analyse the count data. The continuous data were analysed using Analysis of Variance and the mean separation was done using Least Significant Difference. Results revealed that the optimal sterilization protocol was specific to the explant type. The third leaf from the top of the plant and the apical bud was the best explants giving minimum tissue contamination and browning. Fungal contamination was frequent in leaf explants whereas bacteria in bud explants. The protocols containing 70% ethanol (30s), 0.1% HgCl2 (5 min) and sterile distilled water with activated charcoal (1 gL-1 ; 25 min), and 20% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (15 min) with 70% ethanol (1 min) were comparable for the third leaf. In apical buds, the protocols of 0.1% HgCl2 (10 min) and 70% ethanol (1 min), and 10% NaOCl (15 min) with 70% ethanol (1 min) provided comparable performances with the highest survival and least contamination rates. The potential of replacing hazardous HgCl2 with non-toxic NaOCl by manipulating the concentration and the exposure time in combination with 70% ethanol was highlighted.

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