http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7527 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:08:50 GMT 2026-04-26T17:08:50Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8575 ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AMONG YAM MARKETERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA Salau, S.A.; Omotosho, S.A. 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 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8575 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8571 Effectiveness of Lot Based Automation System for Salad Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Cultivation in Protected House Under Sri Lankan Conditions Jayathilaka, S.N.A.; Adikaram, K.K.L.B.; Kumarasinghe, H.K.M.S. 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. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8571 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/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, K.G.J.P.; Mahinda, T.G.N.; Jayarathna, S.P.A.P.K.; De Alwis, P.D.A. 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. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8568 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/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, E.M.U.I.; Eranga, G.A.S.; Fernando, K.M.C. 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. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8565 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z