Research Publications

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
Climate-Based Agri-Insurance Method for Paddy Production in Sri Lanka
(Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Vijayakumar, J
Climate change has emerged as a major threat to agriculture globally, and Sri Lanka is no exception. The districts of Ampara, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa are the main producers of paddy. In recent decades, these regions have experienced greater climate variability, leading to unstable harvests and posing financial risks for paddy farmers. This study examines the potential of Weather Index Insurance (WII) as an effective tool to mitigate income losses caused by extreme weather events. Historical data on paddy yields were combined with daily weather records. The analysis focused on relationships between paddy yields and weather variables: total rainfall, average temperature, maximum and minimum temperatures, and extreme monthly temperatures in the regions for both the Maha and Yala cultivation seasons. Regression models identified significant correlations, and insurance indices were designed for each district and season, with pure premiums calculated based on these relationships. The results indicate that total rainfall is the most significant factor influencing yield variability across all three districts in different seasons. The proposed insurance models were able to reduce income variability by 15–19%. These findings indicate that rainfall is the most reliable basis for climate-resilient paddy insurance in these regions. This data-driven framework for index-based agricultural insurance provides insights to enhance farmer resilience, reduce economic vulnerability for farmers, and support the long-term sustainability of production in those regions.
Open Access
The Effects of Natural Disasters: A Study to Sustain Paddy and other Seasonal Crop Farmers in Sri Lanka
(DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA, 2019-10) Deshapriya, R. D. N. L; Lakpriya, K. A. D. L; Pathiraja, P. M. D. G. T; Wijesiri, P. G. N. A. H; Jayathilaka, R
The United Nations (UN) Development Programme set out seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be achieved by the UN member countries in 2030. One such goal, SDG 8 is about decent work and economic growth, where the agriculture sector can play a wider role for economic growth by reducing unemployment in the country. Worldwide, various factors can adversely affect many occupations, especially with unfavorable effects on those engaged therein. Previous researchers have shown that natural disasters cause impacts in terms of income volatility, particularly negative income shocks regardless of the cause whereas risks force households in developing countries to lower their expenditure on health and education. Mottaleb et al. (2013) identified natural disasters impacting on household income and expenditure volatilities in Bangladesh as well. Ministry of Disaster Management (DM) in Sri Lanka identifies flood and drought as the major types of natural disasters affecting Sri Lanka (Karunarathna and Athukorala, 2018). Nevertheless, Tsunami has also been a major issue in the recent past. Its likelihood of occurrence is rather small, but it causes high damage. Ancient Sri Lanka was a country with selfsufficiency. Currently, an open market economy, Sri Lanka’s dependency is higher on imports, partly due to insufficient local production. In addition, over the years cultivation has declined due to various reasons. The International Trade Administration (2018) states that in Sri Lanka, over 25% are employed in the agricultural sector, which contributes 6.9 % to Gross Domestic Production (GDP). This indicates the magnitude of any adverse impacts to the agricultural sector. In Malaysia, Hein (2019) discussed the response to extreme disasters and climate change when the government intervenes to mitigate same and spread awareness of climate changes. However, in Sri Lanka no long term plan is in place to mitigate or at least minimize the effects of natural disasters, which can lead to inequalities in the population. The findings/results of this study can assist Sri Lanka to initiate policies to reduce inequality among farmers, and thereby improve and sustain the agricultural practices in Sri Lanka; and thus to achieve SDG 8 as set out by the UN.
Open Access
Growth Parameters and Grain Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) as Affected by Biofilm Biofertilizer Application
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Ketipearachchi, K.G.; Seneviratne, G.; Fonseka, D.L.C.K.
Overuse of synthetic fertilizer causes a number of detrimental impacts on both human and environmental health. Hence, beneficial microbial biofilm-based Biofilm biofertilizers (BFBFs) have been developed to make agro ecosystems more eco- friendly. Accordingly, it has been revealed that the BFBFs can reduce current application of chemical fertilizers (CF) in rice even up to 50% without hampering grain yield in field experiments in research stations. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate growth parameters and grain yield of rice after application of BFBF in farmers’ fields. The experiment was designed in block design for paired comparison with uniform, consecutive paddy fields in 12 farmer fields in the Polonnaruwa district. The farmers’ CF practice (N: P: K; 155:20:20) and BFBF practice (1 L BFBF with N: P: K; 59:15:16) were applied as treatments with 12 location replicates per treatment in the Yala 2018 season. Means of shoot and root dry weights per plant, thousand grain weight and yield of the two practices were evaluated. T-test was used for mean comparison. Results indicated that there is a significant increase (P < 0.05) in shoot (53%) and root (89%) dry weights per plant and thousand grain weight (18%) in BFBF practice compared to the farmers’ CF practice. Further, the average grain yield of the BFBF practice was 5,112 kg/ha whereas that of farmers’ CF practice was 4,238 kg/ha, a 21% increment in the grain yield. Hence, it can be concluded that the BFBF can enhance plant growth and grain yield while reducing farmers’ use of CF in paddy fields.

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