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Magazine Committee Editor in Chief Prof. D.A.M. De Silva Editorial Board Prof. M. Esham Prof. H.S.R. Rosairo Prof. A.W. Wijeratne Prof. S.H.P. Malkanthi Dr. S.T.C. Amarasinghe Dr. R.K.C. Jeewanthi Dr. P. Wattage Mr. I.C.Hettiarachchi Copy Editing Mr. K. Sivayesunesan Editorial Assistants Ms. B.M.R.L. Basnayake Ms. M.M.S.C. Senevirathne Ms. A.S. Hettige Magazine Layout and Design Mr. A.M.S.I. Bandara 2

Editorial Brief Role of universities in economic downturn COVID-19 pandemic plus the economic downturn crippled the island nations future and appeal to all stakeholders to find solutions. Especially national universities are being challenged to consider their roles in mitigating socio-economic impacts. What is needed at this point is a “far greater” contribution from national universities into research and development which feeds directly into private sector activity. Undoubtedly, innovation, new thinking and strategic idea generation and above all implementation is required from universities, with support from the state, funding agencies and often international multilateral agencies, as the future of Sri Lanka is dependent on the quality of its research and higher education institutions. Universities themselves need to innovate and become more proactive in responding to the immediate needs of the marketplace as renewed growth should not rely on commodity price upswings but rather from innovation. This not only applies to research but also to the caliber and skillset of their graduates. Further, universities should regard it as their mission to get involved in helping the business community, especially to reduce financial disruptions and socioeconomic damage caused by the current crisis. Despite the poor growth outlook, universities in Sri Lanka have to “remain fit for purpose” by adopting a “top-down frugal innovation mindset or a business model (doing more with less while adopting home-grown solutions) to serve the fast-forwarded future of work”. Future had “become more horizontal rather than vertical” and would rest on the pillars of talent, ways of working and data-technology. In many societies, universities are the main centers of research, and crafting effective responses to economic crisis including to its socioeconomic implications – requires us to draw on all we have learned from the past and on careful analysis of the implications of policy choices in the present. Present version of AFQ magazine is dedicated to report the contributions that universities, its academic staff and students made to mitigate the challenges. Bundle of articles brings worthwhile stories to our readership. Prof. Achini De Silva Editor Knowledge Products: contribution of universities on manage economic crisis 3

Universities play an intrinsic role in the economic development of any country, may it be developed or developing. They increase skills, support innovation and attract investment and they have an important part in supporting businesses to drive product, process and service innovation. Universities make major contributions to economic development by supplying graduates also. They have been one of the most valuable assets for communities in advancing education, health, and social service needs of residents. The most obvious channel through which universities create economic growth is as producers of human capital which means the workforce of the country. A good and productive workforce by making use of other resources can lead an economy in to growth and prosperity. Universities play an important role in their local economies by helping regions build their skilled workforces. Universities are also essential for innovation, and innovation is essential for economic growth. Universities have an important part in supporting businesses to drive product, process and service innovation. Innovation is enabled and supported by universities in a number of ways: • through a range of knowledge exchange activities with businesses, such as long-term collaborative research programmes, consultancy and training; • by commercializing innovative ideas, taking a proactive role in the commercialization of universities’ research; Many universities act as ‘anchor institutions’ in their local area and they create prosperity in their local areas, contributing to regional growth, jobs, investment and community wellbeing. They help regions to achieve their economic potential by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting investment and talent, and creating jobs. Knowledge transfer is the third role of universities. This encompasses a wider scope of university initiatives that contribute to economic growth. Some of the basic technology commercialization activities, such as licenses and university spinout companies. Universities’ involvement in economic development is taking many forms and Figure 1, describes the fundamental roles of the university. M.A. Erandi Jayasinghe Department of Agribusiness Management Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Why Universities Matter for Economic Growth? 4

Workforce development programs involve workforce education and training. Community development projects range from working with local community groups to investing directly in public education through local schools. Policy development is one of the most common roles for universities with regard to promoting economic development due to their multifarious nature and the range of experts who work in these various specialized fields. Many academics are individually involved in policy research and development. Community development programs at universities focus on economic and social projects that can help improve the local neighborhoods and region. Fig. 1. The roles of the university References Breznitz, S. M., & Feldman, M. P. (2010). The engaged university. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 37(2), 139–157. doi:10.1007/s10961- 010-9183-6 The engaged university – towards new roles for universities for economic development. (2012, December 28). Research-Management in Management-Research [RMIMR]. https:// rmimr.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/the-engageduniversity-towards-new-roles-for-universitiesfor-economic-development/ 5

Universities as Spotlights on Managing Economic Crisis I n the context of managing economic crises, a university can be considered as a spotlight in the sense that it can shine a light on the issues and challenges that are associated with an economic crisis. Universities are centers of research, education, and expertise, and they can provide valuable insights and solutions to address the economic challenges faced by individuals, businesses, and communities during a crisis. Through research, education, community engagement, and advocacy, universities can bring attention to the impact of an economic crisis and offer potential solutions to help manage and mitigate those impacts. As such, a university can be a spotlight in the sense that it can illuminate the economic issues, highlight potential solutions, and help guide policy decisions that can address the crisis. Conducting research is one of the best ways that a university can engage to manage the economic crisis of a country. Universities can conduct research on economic crises to understand the causes, consequences, and potential solutions. This research can inform policymakers and help them make evidence-based decisions. For example, the article, “The economic crisis and accounting: Implications for the research community1” written by Anthony G. Hopwood has clearly addressed the improvements need to be in the banking and financial sector and the audit industry. According to his research, he has given the plausible suggestions on identified issues to manage the economic crisis. Not only conducting the research on management accounting implication, but also, the universities can contribute to innovation by conducting research and developing new technologies and products. In this regard, the Sri Lankan universities also are doing research to produce new products and technologies which can be commercialized into a global market. There are many research conducting under the funds from the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) and the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS). With the support from these AHEAD and NIFS like organizations, the universities have developed the value-added products and technologies which already have introduced to the international and global market to minimize the economic crisis. The value-added beverages development based on Sri Lankan true cinnamon by the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Renewable energy sources developed by the University of Peradeniya, A high performance, multipurpose VTOL drone developed by University of Moratuwa, Commercialization of value-added byproducts of virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut by the University of Kelaniya can be taken into account can be taken as examples for AHEAD like funded projects2. Above mentioned projects and research have given an impact on solving the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka in a great extent and these innovations can help drive economic growth and create new industries that can help mitigate economic crises. A.M. Chinthaka Adhikari Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 6

Secondly, universities can provide education to students on economic crises, including the economic theories, policies, and strategies that can be used to mitigate and manage crises. For this, the syllabi and the system must be renewed and updated without sticking into outdated theories. This education can help students become informed citizens and future policymakers which lead to not to let the country into a crisis again. Similarly, universities can support entrepreneurship by providing resources and support to entrepreneurs. This support can include training, mentoring, and access to funding, which can help create new jobs and stimulate economic growth for the individuals and organizations to acquire skills to navigate the crisis. Here the traditional universities must be converted into “entrepreneurial university3” which is defined as a university that has the capacity to innovate, recognize and create opportunities, as well as working as a team, taking risks and responding to challenges4. Moreover, Universities can collaborate with policymakers to develop policies that can address economic crises in academic level. This collaboration can include providing expert advice and participating in policy debates. University academia has specialists with sound knowledge in every section responsible for economic crisis and country development. Before getting the crisis worse, it’s better to take, accept and making their advices into action, will give an enormous support of managing a national economic crisis. Overall, universities can make a significant contribution to managing economic crises by providing research, education, collaboration, support for entrepreneurship, and innovation. References: 1. Hopwood, A. G. (2009). The economic crisis and accounting: Implications for the research community. Accounting, organizations and society, 34(6-7), 797-802. 2. https://ahead.lk/ accessed on 27 February 2023. 3. Rae, D. (2010). Universities and enterprise education: responding to the challenges of the new era. Journal of small business and enterprise development, 17(4), 591-606. 4. Pereira, F. C. M., & Klein, S. B. (2020). Entrepreneurial University: Conceptions and Evolution of Theoretical Models. Revista Pensamento Contemporâneo em Administração, 14(4), 20-35. Managing Economic Crisis 7

This is the 21st century, which has tremendous technology and development. There are 195 countries in the world with different cultures, economic statuses, and literacy levels. An economic crisis has been recorded in many countries due to various reasons. The term ‘economic crisis’ refers to a situation where a country’s economy has a sudden decline in strength, which is typically caused by a financial crisis. The years 1772, 1929, 1973, 1993, and 2007 have seen the most devastating economic crises in the world. Local and global currency crises, rising interest rates, stock market crashes, hyperinflation, sudden natural disasters, and pandemics can be the causes of an economic crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic was the latest disaster that was responsible for the collapse of the economies of many countries. Countries are fighting to the best of their ability to overcome this unfortunate situation. The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the country of 22 million people, has been a developing country since its independence. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the development of the country slowed down, and now a huge economic crisis has been created in the country. Not only the impact of the pandemic but also the heightened money printing, political instability, fertilizer bans, tax cuts, and dollar shortage. The country faced the most difficult phase of the crisis, experiencing fuel shortages, power cuts, shortages of essential goods, pay cuts, layoffs, and inflation. The government is carrying out procedures and actions to rebuild the country’s economy with public assistance. Not only the government, but many other parties in the country can contribute to the upliftment of the Sri Lankan economy. Universities are one of them. N.W.J.Vinushi Hansika Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Contribution of Universities to strengthen the Agriculture Sector on Economic Crisis Management 8

The university is a place where an educational environment exists where academic research is done and students study for degrees. It is a pool of knowledge, experience, ideas, and leadership as it consists of academics and undergraduates. There are a large number of academics and undergraduates in the university who are exploring science, agriculture, technology, economics, and the arts. Agriculture is a wide sector that can strengthen the economy. Agriculture is the sector that ensures the food security of the country, can improve the standard of living of an individual, and earns income for the country. The development of this sector can be done mainly by introducing innovations, creating entrepreneurs, and increasing the value of existing products. Universities have the knowledge and resources to achieve these conditions. In the face of this economic crisis, there is a need in the country, and innovations that suit the current situation should be created. Since the university is a place where knowledge and new ideas are shared, there are more opportunities to introduce such innovations. The new innovations presented by the undergraduates can be created using the resources available at the university, and the necessary guidance can be obtained from the professors. The most problematic situation that has arisen at present is the lack of quality fertilizers and the high cost of animal feed due to import restrictions. Various products have already been introduced for this problem, and many researches and surveys are also conducted by universities. New products can be introduced through agricultural inputs instead of imported goods. Through the advancement of these innovations, not only domestic consumption but also the international market can be introduced. With the economic crisis, unemployment is a huge problem in society. After schooling, a group of people go on to higher education, while the rest are either employed or unemployed. Universities have the potential to guide these young people, as well as the jobless or unemployed, into entrepreneurship. It is easier to turn them towards entrepreneurship during this economic crisis period than at any other time. Scholarly university professors and lecturers have a good understanding of the opportunities available in our country as well as abroad. Programs and training opportunities for people who are going to come forward as entrepreneurs can be organized with the involvement of university undergraduates. As well as encouraging outsiders, university undergraduates should also be encouraged to do research, and they should be encouraged to create opportunities with their own ideas rather than waiting for someone to give them a job after leaving the university. Exports are a way of bringing foreign exchange into our country. Tea is a major export product of our country. Moreover, there are many other exportable agricultural products in the country. But they have not been able to reach the export standard due to the lack of interest and ignorance of the farmers and producers. The university has sufficient resources to conduct workshops and organize awareness programs to impart knowledge about necessary documents and legal matters, providing the proper knowledge required to increase the value of their products. This will contribute to the country’s economy while also raising the standard of living for individuals. For example, university professors have proposed ideas such as combining agricultural activities such as harvest festivals with tourist sites in Sri Lanka to attract more tourists. If the country’s authorities, the elderly, the youth, and the people leave aside personal gains and work towards the betterment of the country, Sri Lanka will be freed from its economic crisis in a short period of time and good times will dawn for all. 9

New Dimension to Overcome the Worsening Situation of the Health Sector: Role of Sri Lankan Universities Dedicated to Indigenous Medicine Over the centuries, the Indigenous Medicine of Sri Lanka, most popularly known as ‘’Helawedakama’’ used and passed down from one generation to another as a unique heritage of the country. The ancient cities of the country still bear what many believe to be the first hospitals of the world as ruins. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts claim to be the first to do so in a systematic way. Also, the country possesses bulky medical literature which was gathered, polished, and developed over a few centuries in some prestigious manuscripts written by unknown brainiacs during that era. Even today, there are uncountable branches of indigenous medicine such as eye treatment (Es Wedakama), psychiatry treatment (Unmada Wedakama), fracture healing (Kedumbidum Wedakama), treatment for snake bites (Sarpavisha Wedakama), and especially the treatment for wounds and cancer (Gedi-Wana-Pilika Wedakama). Ola leaves manuscripts have provided a great deal of knowledge to the world of indigenous medicine. But there are still many valuable drugs, treatments, beliefs, and techniques which are undocumented. But now, all our concern is focused on the economic crisis we are facing and the difficulties we have to overcome with that. My main focus on this particular scenario is the impacts on health we have to deal with the worsening crisis in our country. Drying foreign reserves have dragged our country from the foot of essential imports, mainly medical supplies, and drugs. The Sri Lankan health sector is still free as it stands up to the point of this writing, but that is nurtured mostly by western medical practices and thousands of established hospitals and systematic governing. The importation of medicine and medical supplies is at the heart of the health sector and that’s why it is now on the verge of a major collapse. Of every country that is on the list of countries with the highest inflation rate in the past period, I think Sri Lanka has the advantage in overcoming the crisis of the health sector because we have a systematic and recognized indigenous medical principle. In that case, the Sri Lankan university system plays a key role in facing this worsening economic crisis affecting the health sector. Sri Lanka has more than 8000 registered indigenous physicians at the Ayurveda Medical Council of Sri Lanka. Moreover, there are 03 Ayurveda Teaching Hospitals, 04 Ayurveda Research Hospitals, and 56 Provincial Ayurveda Hospitals with higher as 208 Ayurveda Central Dispensaries countrywide. Also, there are more than 8000 traditional physicians registered at Ayurveda Medical Council. By the way, there are main two universities dedicated to producing graduates and making advancements P.G.W.S.L.Weerasinghe Department of Agribusiness Management Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 10

in indigenous medicine in the country. They are, “Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, the University of Colombo’’ and the “Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine”. They contribute to the health sector in multiple ways in this troubled economic period. Mainly the graduates provided to society by those institutes and the research work and entrepreneurial ventures they are launching are vital in overcoming this crisis. Let’s dig deep. Ayurveda & Herbal Beauty Products from Sri Lanka With the prized blessing of Sri Lanka’s nature, the country has a high level of biodiversity. Most of that biodiversity is comprised of plants that have been used for treating illness over the main four traditional medicine systems which are called Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Deshiya chikitsa. Among the native plant species, there are more than 1,400 plants used in treating defects. The market for natural and organic personal care products is currently valued at US$12 billion. It is anticipated to increase at an annual growth rate of 9.3%, rising from US$7 billion in 2020 to US$26.3 billion in 2027. One of the report’s segmentations, skin care, is anticipated to grow at a 10.9% CAGR and reach US$9.4 billion by the end of 2027. As a result, there will be massive commerce from the local to the worldwide level due to the vast global need for herbal cosmetics. As a result, Sri Lanka has many chances to increase its production of Ayurveda and herbal cosmetics thanks to the diversity of its medicinal flora and the strength of entrepreneurs emerging from the prestige Ayurveda university system. Medical Techniques and New Drug Discovery The SL Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation is the industry leader in the production and distribution of ayurvedic medicines to government hospitals, ayurvedic doctors, and the private sector. Production and quality control are two of its operations. Researching and developing Ayurveda medicines, as well as raising bees and cattle for their use in Ayurvedic medicine, are all part of the production. The process of quality control includes creating requirements for standardized raw materials, extracts, and final goods. The Ayurvedic Drugs Cooperation shows a healthy state meanwhile in a crisis as a successful entity controlled by the government with a ROA score of 4.1 and a Governance indicator of 29.2. Also, the researches in drug discovery and technology licensing done by the cooperation were a huge boost to the health sector as a scientific industry. These researches were mainly carried out academically by respective universities in the field. Supplementing Tourism with Ayurveda Retreats Experiencing Sri Lanka’s historic wellness practices gives travelers the gift of a restorative and nurturing lifestyle. With an Ayurvedic retreat in Sri Lanka, relax their soul and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty. The ancient Ayurvedic teachings balance the body, mind, and spirit in Sri Lanka’s calming and supportive environment. These practices are carried out by trained medical professionals who were graduates from the above institutes and the legitimate nature and professionalism of the industry could able to attract more tourists to the country. Sri Lankan health retreats concentrate on offering physical and mental health respite so that participants may deal with the strains and confusion of daily life more readily. The nation’s renowned hospitality, scenic beauty, verdant woods, and cultural richness make it the ideal destination for such reviving and energizing excursions. A popular treatment in Sri Lanka that dates back to the traditional era and is very helpful for general health, recovery, and wellness is the panchakarma retreat. The majority of Ayurvedic resorts in Sri Lanka also provide specially prepared meals to balance the doshas and promote tranquility in the body. Ayurvedic yoga retreat in Sri Lanka offers genuine naturopathy, revitalizing yoga classes, life-changing meditation techniques, and wellness treatments to revive the spiritual side. So as the conclusion to this hidden side of the Sri Lankan Indigenous Medicine Education system, I could say this could be the only escape from the alarming crisis in the health sector caused by the economic crisis. We can use the knowledge and graduate output to increase the national production in above mentioned areas and reduce the importation of medication to some specific treatments. Effective use of the established Ayurveda Medicine system could be an extra advantage for our country in the long-run recovery process. 11

Dr. K.N.Nadeeshani Silva Department Of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness Faculty of Agriculture University of Ruhuna f.dúm, md,kfha§ udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKh l< hq;= jkafka wehs@ rdÊh iy fm!oa.,sl wxY f.dúm<j, udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrKh ms,sno isoaê wèhhk idrdxYh udkj iïm; fyj;a Y%ñlhd ^Labor& hkq b;du;a jeo.;a jQ ksYamdok idOlhls. udkj iïm; ukd f,i l<uKdlrKh lsÍfuka lDIs jHdmdr M,odhS;djh fukau ,dNodhS f,i jeä ÈhqKq lr .; yel. úfYaIfhkau lDIs jHdmdr l<uKdlrKfha§ udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKh w;HjYHu wx.hla jkq we;. ukaoh;a,iïm%Odhsl iajhxfmdaYS lDIs l¾udka;fha§ mjq,a Y%ñlhla ^Family labour& nyq,j fhdod .ekqko fj<om, b,lal lr .;a lDIs l¾udka;h ^ Commercial Agricultural ;=, udisl fÉ;k ,nk Y%ñlhkaf.a fiajdj ,nd .ekSug isÿ fõ. tu wjia:djka j,§ ksis f,i udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKh ;=,ska fiajlhdf.a fuka fiajdodhlh l%uj;a wd¾Ól yd udkisl ;Dma;shla ^Satisfaction& jeä ÈhqKq lr .; yel . lDIs l¾udka;fha udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKfha uQ,sl wruqKq jkqfha, 1. f.dúm, ;=, rojd .ekSu 2. .=Kd;aul fiajlhkaf.a .=Kd;aul j¾Okh 3. ,dNodhs f,i lDIs jHdmdr l<uKdlrKhg udkj iïm;a ksis f,i yeisrùu. f.dúm, md,kfha§ udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKh l< hq;= jkafka wehs@ olaI iy ld¾hlaIu fiajhlska f.dúm, id¾:l;ajh yd ,dNodhS;ajhg iDPqju odhljk idOlhls. lDIs jHdmdrhka Tjqkaf.a wruqKq lrd ,.d ùug kshudldr f,i fiajhlska f;dard .ekSu “Tjqka jHdmdrh ;=, rojd .ekSu w;HjYH ldrKhls. tu ksid lDIs jHdmdr ;=,§ wfkl=;a jHdmdr ;=,§u fukau udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKh wfkl=;a l<uKdlrK l%shdj,shka yd wkq.dój l%shd l, hq;=h. úfYaIfhkau, Y%S ,xldj jeks rgj,a ;=, “ lDIs l¾udka;h ms<sno ;reK mrmqr ;=< we;s iDKd;aul wdl,am fjkia lsÍu wmg fu;=,ska ukdj isÿ lr .; yels w;r Tjqka kej;;a lDIs l¾udka;h ;=,g wdl¾IKh lr .ekSug yels jkq we;. 1. Tnf.a jHdmdrhg udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrK ie,iqula wjYHo@ ;udf.a jHdmdrh l=uK m%udKfha ^l=vd fyda úYd, & jHdmdrhla jqjo Tn wdh;kh ;=, l%uj;a fyda wl%uj;a f,i oekgu;a udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrK l%shdj,shka isÿjkafkah. m%:ufhkau Tng Tnf.a jHdmdrfha j¾;udk udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrK l%shdj,sh ms<sno we.hSula isÿ l, yel. my; ioyka we.hSï l%shdj,sh yryd Tnf.a j¾;udk udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrKh ms<sno ;lafiarejla ,nd fokq we;. 12

2. udkj iïm;a we.hSula hkq l=ulao@ Tnf.a jHdmdrh ;=, udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrKh isÿlrk l%shdj,shka m%;sm;a;Ska yd ksjerÈ f,aLk.; lsÍfï l%shdj,sh ms<snoj isÿ lrKq ,nk l%uj;a l%shdj,shla udkj iïm;a we.hSula f,i yeÈkaúh yel. tu.ska Tnf.a jHdmdrh ;=, mj;sk j¾;udk ie,iqï j, M,odhs;djh wvqmdvq yÿkd.ekSu;a tu.ska udkj iïm;a l<uKdlrK l%shdj,sh jeä ÈhqKq lsÍug;a wjia:djla ,efnkq we;. m%Odk f,iu udkj iïm;a we.hSï l%shdj,sh ;=,§ my; l%shdj,Ska ms<sno we.hSula isÿ lr .; yel. 1. fiajlhka nojd .ekSfï l%shdj,sh. 2. fiajlhka rojd .ekSfï mámdáhka. 3. fiajl mqyqKq jevigyka. 4. fiajl jegqma yd jrodk ms<sno 5. fiajH fiajl iïnkaO;djh 6. wdh;kh ;=, mqoa.,hka ^People& yg iDPqj n,md we;s l%shdldrlï yd isÿúï. Tn id¾:l jHdmdrhla isÿ lrkafka kï Tng jd¾Yslj fujeks we.hSula isÿ l, hq;= jk w;r tu.ska Tng Tnf.a jHdmdr wruqKq lrd myiqfjka <.d ùug yels jkq we;. by; wruqKq iys;j isÿ lrk ,o isoaê wOHhk idrdxYh my; oelafõ. Y%S ,xldfõ lDIsld¾ñl f.dúm<j, udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrKh isÿlrk whqre y÷kd.ekSu i|yd fuu isoaê wOHhkh isÿ lrk ,È. fuys§ rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxY ksfhdackh lrkq ,enQ f.dúm<j, udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrK l%shdud¾.j, mj;sk fjkialï ms<sn|j wOHhkhla isÿ lrk ,È. fï i|yd rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxYj, f.dúm< foll fiajlhka 40 ne.ska wyUq f,i f;dardf.k f;dr;=re /ia lsÍu isÿlrkq ,eîh. f;dr;=re ,nd. ekSu i|yd ie,iqï lrk ,o úêu;a m%Yakdj,shla fhdod.kakd ,È. f;dard.;a fiajl ksheÈfha ia;%S mqreI Ndjh fn§hdu ie,ls,a,g .ekSfï§, fm!oa.,sl wxYfha nyq;r fiajlhska ldka;d md¾Yjfha jQ w;r rdcH wxYfha nyq;rh msßñ fiajlhska ùu úfYaI ,laIKhl’. tfukau fiajlhska jhia iSudjka ie,lSfï§, rdcH f.dúmf<ys fiajlhska wjqreÿ 41;a 50 ;a w;r jhfia jQ w;r, fm!oa.,sl f.dúmf<ys fiajlhska jhi wjqreÿ 20 ;a 60 ;a w;r miqjkakka úh’ fm!oa.,sl wxYhkays i,ld n,kq ,nk fiajl ldrHlaYu;djh fuu jhia w;r fjkialïj,g n,md we;s nj fuhska ;yjqre lr.; yel. Bg wu;rj rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxYj, jegqma ;,j, fjkiaùï o fuhg n,mE fya;+ka f,i oelaúh yel. rdcHfha f.dúm<j,ska msßkuk jegqmg idfmalaIj fm!oa.,sl wxYfhka msßkukq ,nk jegqm wvq uÜgul mj;S. fuu ksid ;reK msßi fm!oa.,sl f.dúm<j,g /lshd i|yd fhduqùug jeä keUqre;djhla mj;S. ;jo fuu wOHhkh uÕska lDIs f.dúm<j, oekg isÿlrkq ,nk udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrK l%shdj,Ska, tu l%shdj,Ska isÿlrkq ,nk wdldrh iy ta yd iïnkaO .eg¨, wNsfhda. ms<sn|j wOHhk isÿlr we;’ fiajlhska n|jd .ekSu iy f;dard. ekSu, fiajl mqyqKq lsÍu iy ixj¾Okh, fiajl ldrHidOk l<ukdlrKh, fiajl jegqma yd mdßf;daYsl l<ukdlrKh, fiajd ia:dk fldkafoais yd wdh;ksl iïnkaO;d, fiajd ia:dkfha fi!LH yd wdrlaIl l%shdj,Ska, fiajl úkh iy .eg¨ l<ukdlrKh hk ldrKd fuu wOHhkfha i,ld n,kq ,enQ uQ,sl ldrKd fõ. fuu wOHhk ;=, uq,skau f.dúm< i|yd fiajlhska n|jd .ekSu iy f;dard.ekSï l%shdj,sh i,ld n,k ,È. fm!oa.,sl f.dúm< ;=, fuu n|jd .ekSu iy f;dard.ekSu isÿlrkq ,nkafka udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrK ;=ud úisk’. ta i|yd Tyq úiska úêu;a iïuqL mÍlaIKhla mj;ajd fiajlhska n|jd .ekSu isÿlr ;snq‚. rcfha f.dúm< ;=, thg imqrd fjkia jQ l%shdj,shla wkq.ukh lr ;snq‚. rdcH f.dúm<j, fiajlhska n|jd .ekSu fndfydaúg isÿlr we;af;a wúêu;a jQ foaYmd,k m;aùï /lshd f,i fyda lDIsl¾u fomd¾;fïka;=fõ ueÈy;aùulsks. ta flfia jqjoa, n|jd .ekSfuka wk;=rej f.dúm< l<ukdlrKh úiska Tjqkag Tjqkaf.a /lshdfõ iajdNdjh, j.lSu, ldrHhka ,ehsia;=j ms<sn| úêu;a oekqj;a lsÍula isÿ lr ;snq‚. fiajlhskag Tjqkaf.a oekqu, l=i,;d, iy iuia; ldrHidOkh by, kexùu i|yd mqyqKqj yd ixj¾Ok l%shdj,Ska WmldÍ fõ. tksid fiajlhskag /lshdfõ j.lSï ndr§ug fmr ksis mqyqKqjla ,ndÈh hq;= w;r /lshdj isÿlr f.k hk w;r;=r § jßka jr /lshdj iïnkaO mqyqKqùï j,g fhduql, hq;=h’ fiajlhska ^úfYaIfhka wvq l=i,;d iy ldrHidOkhka olajk fiajlhska& úfYaIfhkau kj ;dlaI‚l l%ufõo y÷kajd §fï iy kj WmlrK Ndú;fha§, wjodkï iys; ldrHhkays ksr; ùfï§, úfYaI mqyqKqjla wksjd¾hfhkau ,ndÈh hq;= nj Baptista ^2012& hq.fha mÍlaIK jd¾;d j, i|yka lr we;. fiajlhska wvq ldrHidOk uÜgï fmkajk úg mqyqKq wdh;k, úYajúoHd, fyda wfkl=;a wod, mqyqKq 13

uOHia:dk yryd wod, mqyqKq jevigyka ilialr mqyqKqùï ,ndÈh hq;=h’ jvd fyd| ldrHidOkhla isÿlsÍu i|yd wjYH oekqu ,nd.ekSu i|yd fiajlhska úúO jQ jevuq¿, iïuka;%K, fyda ieis i|yd o fhduql, yel. fojkqj fuu wOHhkfha§, w¨;ska n|jd.;a fiajlhska i|yd mj;ajkq ,nk y÷kajd§fï jevigyka ms<sn|j i,ld n,k ,È. fuh i,ld n,k ,o rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxY foflysu isÿ fkdlsÍu úfYaI lreKl’. fuu.ska fiajlhska f.dúm< lghq;= j,gu wkq.; ùug yd ldrHlaYu fiajlhska ùug ie,lsh hq;= ld,hla .;ùu isÿúh yel. mqyqKq yd ixj¾Ok jevigyka i,ld ne,Sfï§ miqysh jir 05l ld,h ;=, lsis÷ mqyqKq jevigyklg fiajlhska fhduq lsÍula isÿlr fkdue;. flfia jqjo fmdfydr Ndú;h, me, lmamdÿ lsÍu, mdxY= ixrlaIK l%shdj,Skag wod, mqyqKqùï fm!oa.,sl wxYfha f.dúm< fiajlhskag jßka jr ,nd§ ;snq‚. tfukau fuu mqyqKq úêu;a jD;a;Shfõ§ka úiska isÿlr ;sîuo jeo.;a lreKls. lDIs f.dúm< i|yd wju f,i jirlg jrla j;a mqyqKq yd ixj¾Ok jevigyka meje;aùu jeo.;a wx.hla f,i f.dúm< fiajlhska o jgydf.k ;snq‚. tfukau kj m;aùï ,nd.;a fiajlhskag wdh;k y÷kajd§fï jevigyka meje;aùu yd wfkl=;a fiajlhska wdh;ksl m%OdkSka iuÕ ióm iïnkaO;djhla mj;ajd.ekSu uÕska o f.dúm< lghq;= i|yd wjYH mqyqKqj ,nd§u hï;dla ÿrlg isÿl, yel. wdh;ksl ldrHidOkh ksishdldrj mj;ajd .ekSu iy uek ne,Su udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrKfha ;j;a jeo.;a l%shdj,shla fõ. tuÕska ldrHuKav,fha ;SrK .ekSfï yelshdj, kj W;amdok we;=¨j kj wdh;ksl fiajd y÷kajd§u, ksIamdok úúOdxyS lrKh lsÍu, ldrHhkays .=Kd;aul Ndjh jeä ÈhqKq lsÍu, fj<|fmd, fldgia by, kexùu, fiajlhska i;= l=i,;d iy wdh;k fiajlhska - m%OdkSka w;r in|;d jeäÈhqKq lsÍu f,i y÷kajd Èh yel. ^Imrau”2014& ta ksid i,ld n,k ,o rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxY foflysu f.dúm< ;=, ldrHidOkh ;lafiare lsÍu, ta i|yd Èß.ekaùï l%shdj,shla id¾:l j isÿlrkq ,eîu úfYaI ,laIKhls. flfiafj;;a fm!oa.,sl f.dúm< ;=, jev wOHlaIjreka úiska Èkm;d isÿlrkq ,nk ldrHhka we.hSfï l%shdj,sh úêu;a f,ig isÿ fkdlrk nj wOHhkfha§ fy<súh. flfia fyda fuu wxY foflysu l<ukdlrejka úiska f.dúm< fiajlhskaf.a hym;a ldrHhka we.hSu isÿlrkq ,nhs. fndfydaúg l<ukdlrejka úiska f.dúm< fiajlhskaf.a ffoksl b,lal imqrd we;aoehs muKla mßlaId lrk neúka wxY foflysu f.dúm< ;=, úêu;a ldrHidOk we.hSï l%shdj,shla meje;aùu ks¾foaYhla f,ig ,ndÈh yel. tfukau ldrHidOk by, kexùu i|yd wjYH Èß.ekaùï isÿlsÍu o ks¾foaY l< yel. jegqma iy mdßf;daYsl §ukd hk udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrK l%shdj,sh i,ld ne,Sfï§ th wdh;k ;=, M,odhS;dj by, kexùug id¾:l f,i fhdod.; yels jeo.;a l%shdj,shla f,i y÷kajd Èh yel. fiajlhska i;= Wmßu fiajd Odß;djhka ldrHlaYu j ,nd.ekSu i|yd Èß.ekaùu w;HjYH jk w;r ta i|yd fiajlhska Èß §ukd yd mdßf;daYsl §ukd ,ndÈh hq;= fõ. uQ,Huh §ukd j,g wu;rj uQ,H fkdjk §ukd o ,nd§u isÿl, yel. udisl jegqma, jegqma §ukd, m%ido §ukd, Èß §ukd f,i y÷kajd Èhyels w;r fm!oa.,sl wxYfha f.dúm< ;=, fï i|yd ie,eiaula ilid ;snq‚. flfia fyda wod, wxY foflysu fiajlhska yg udisl jegqm iEu uilu kshñ; Èkg ,nd§ ;snq‚. wxY foflysu f.dúm< fiajlhska Èß §ukd iy iyk §ukd wfmalaId l, w;r fiajlhskaf.a ldrHidOkh u; mokï jQ Èß §ukd l%ufõohla, ffoksl jev 14

by; ldrKd w;r, fm!oa.,sl wxY f.dúm< l<ukdldß;ajh f.dúm< ;SrK .ekSfï§ fiajlhskaf.a woyia úuiSula isÿlrkq ,nhs. tfuka rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxY foflysu fiajlhskag l<ukdlrejka yuqù Tjqka iuÕ hym;a ikaksfõokhla mj;ajd .ekSug wjia:dj ,nd § ;snq‚. tuksid fiajlhska yg jevlsÍug myiq mßirhla ilid ;snq‚. ta kuq;a rdcH wxYfha f.dúm< ;=, wjYH ;rï iqnidOl myiqlï mjd i,id fkd;snqKq w;r iqNidOk jdis f,i jd¾Ysl pdßld, iqyo yuq, W;aij §ukd ,nd§ ;snQ w;r tuÕska fiajlhska w;r hym;a iïnkaO;djhla mj;ajd .ekSu isÿlr ;snq‚. lDIsl¾uh wdY%s; lafYa;%j, fiajfha kshq;= jQjka lDIs ridhk iy úúO hkaf;%damlrK iuÕ iy f.dúm< i;=ka iuÕ jev lsÍu isÿlrk ksid fi!LHh iy wdrlaIdj l<ukdlrKh w;HjYHh wx.hls. tuksid yÈis wjia:djl ,nd.ekSu i|yd ffjoH myiqlï, wfkl=;a wdrlaIl iy fi!LHh, m%:udOdr myiqlï f.dúm< ;=, ;sîu wksjd¾h fõ. fiajlhskaf.a fi!LHh iy wdrlaIdj i|yd wjYH mqyqKqj, we÷ï me<÷ï iy ffjoH rlaIKhla fiajlhska fjkqfjka imhd§u wksjd¾h fõ. b,lal mokï lr.;a Èß §ukd l%ufõohla wdh;k i|yd y÷kajdÈh yel. ffoksl b,lal j,g wu;rj udislj fiajlhska yg b,lal ,nd§u u; mokï jQ §ukd l%ufõohla y÷kajd Èh yel. Bg wu;rj lKavdhï §ukd o ,ndÈh yel. uQ,Huh ;Hd.j,g wu;rj ,ndfok uQ,H fkdjk §ukd f,i udifha fyda jif¾ fyd|u fiajlhd f,i kï lsÍu uÕska we.hSula ,nd§u, úfYaI olaI;d fmkajk fiajlhska we.hSu i|yd m%ido §ukd ,nd§u jeks l%shdj,Ska f.dúm< i|yd wkqu; l, yel’ fuuÕska fiajlhskaf.a ;Dma;su;a Ndjh jeä lr tuÕska f.dúmf<ys M,odhS;dj yd ksIamdok l%shdj,sh jeä ÈhqKq l, yel. ;jo fuu l%shd uÕska fiajlhska g Tjqkaf.a ldrHidOkh by, kxjd .ekSug fm<Uùula isÿfõ. udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrK l%shdj,sh mj;ajdf.k hdfï§ b;d jeo.;a jk ;j;a wx.hla jkqfha fiajd fldkafoais iy fiajl iïnkaO;djhka h. fiajlhska i;= wkHkH úYajdih, ks¾jHdc iudc iïnkaO;d yd ixjdo, fiajl meñ‚,s yiqrejk wdldrh, wdh;kh fjkqfjka fiajlhska isÿlrk lemlsÍu, lKavdhï yeÕSï mj;ajdf.k hdu, ;SrK .ekSfï§ fiajlhska olajk odhl;ajh yd iudkd;au;djfhka ie,lSu hym;a fiajl in|;djhka i|yd n,mdk idOl fõ.^ Odhong & Omolo” 2014& 15

flfia jqjo, fiajlhskaf.a .eg¨ ms<sn|j woyia l<ukdldß;ajhg bÈßm;a lsÍu i|yd Tjqka Èßu;a lsÍu ksrka;rfhkau isÿl, hq;=h. fiajlhska .eg¨ bÈßm;a lrk wdldrh jgydf.k tajd úi£u i|yd wjYH mshjr l<ukdldß;ajh úiska .; hq;=h. tfia fkdjqjfyd;a fiajlhskaf.a Èß.ekaùu, ldrHlaYu;djh iy M,odhS;dj wvq úh yel. kdhl;ajh yd wNsfma%rKh Y%S ,xldj ;=, lDIsld¾ñl lafIa;%fha /lshdjka i|yd we;s wvq ms<s.ekSu, wju jegqma iy wfkl=;a iudchSh .eg¨ ksid tu lafYa;%fha /lshdj,g fhduqùug fndfyda fofkla ue,slula olajhs. ta fya;=fjka lDIsld¾ñl lafIa;%h ;=, fiajlhska r|jd .ekSu wmyiq ù we;s w;r thg wjYH fiajl wNsfma%rKhla ,nd§u yd thg wjYH kdhl;ajh ,nd§u b;du;a jeo.;a fõ. Berde, ^2006& g wkqj wfkl=;a wxY yd ii|k l, iqÿiqlï fkd,;a úYd, fiajl msßila lDIsld¾ñl lafIa;%fha isák w;r uQ,sl jYfhka ksis jegqmla fkdue;s ùu fya;=fjka fiajl wNsfma%rKh idfmalaIj wvq uÜgul mj;S. rcfha f.dúm<j, fiajlhska m;alsÍu fukau mylsÍu i|yd l<ukdlrejka lsisfia;au iïnkaO fkdjk neúka rcfha f.dúm<j, fiajlhskag jeä / lshd iqrlaIs;;djhla ,ndfoa. flfia jqjo fm!oa.,sl f.dúm<j, fiajlhska n|jd .ekSu iy mylsÍu hk l%shdj,sh i|yd f.dúm< l<ukdldß;ajhg n,hla we;s w;r ta ksidu fiajlhskaf.a /lshd iqrlaIs;;dj idfmalaIj wvq uÜgul mj;S. kuq;a fuu wxY foflysu fiajH-fiajl iïnkaO;djh b;d by, uÜgul iy hym;a uÜgul mj;S. fm!oa.,sl wxYfha f.dúm< l<ukdlrejkag Èkm;d ,ndfok b,lal ,nd§ we;s neúka Tjqkaf.a ixúOdkd;aul nj idfmalaIj by, uÜgul mj;sk w;r Tjqkaf.a kdhl;ajh o fiajlhska yg wNsfma%rKhla ,nd§ug iu;a fõ. wNsfma%rKhla ,ndfok kdhlhska fhdackd ilia lsÍu, b,lal ilia lsÍu, wjYH ;ek§ fiajlhska yg /lshdj lrf.k hEug yd ;SrK .ekSug n,h ,nd§u uÕska f.dúm< id¾:l f,i yd ldrHlaYuj mj;ajdf.k hEug yelshdj ,ndf.k we;. wjidkfha§, fuu isoaê wOHhkh ;=,ska l=vd iy uOHu mßudK lDIsld¾ñl wdh;kj,$ f.dúm<j, udkj iïm;a l<ukdlrKh isÿlrkq ,nk wdldrh ms<sn|j idfmalaI o< woyila ,nd.ekSug WmldÍ jkq we;. fuu rdcH iy fm!oa.,sl wxY foflysu fiajlhska yg /lshdjg wkqhqla; lsÍug fmr fi!LHh iy wdrlaIdj ms<sn| mqyqKqjla ,ndfoa. ta i|yd Tjqkag wjYH mdjyka, uqyqKq wdjrK, wdrlaIl we÷ï yd wfkl=;a fi!LH wdïmkak ,ndfoa. úfYaIfhka fm!oa.,sl f.dúmf<ys fiajlhskayg wjYH ffjoH yd fi!LHh myiqlï i,id ;snQ w;r uilg jrla meje;afjk ffjoH idhkh yd fi!LHh rlaIKhla fiajlhska yg ,nd§ ;snq‚. f.dúm< fiajlhska o ksisf,i fi!LHh iy wdrlaIK ms<sfj;a wkq.ukh lrkq ,nh’. kuq;a rcfha f.dúmf<ys ffjoHjrhl= mjd fkdue;s w;r iaÓr m;aùï iys; fiajlhskag muKla ffjoH rlaIKhla ysñfõ. ta flfia jqjo wxY foflysu fiajlhska yg wikSm $ ffjoH ksjdvq ,ndfoa. fuu wOHhkfha§ fi!LHh iy wdrlaIK l%ufõoh ms<sn| fiajlhskaf.a u; úuid ne,Sula isÿlrk ,È. ta wkqj fiajlhskaf.a fi!LHh iy wdrlaIdj ms<sn| rcfha f.dúm<j,g jvd jeä wjOdkhla fm!oa.,sl f.dúmf<ys oel.; yels jQ w;r rcfha f.dúm<j,g jvd m%ñ;shlska by, fi!LHdrlaIl l%shdud¾. fm!oa.,sl f.dúm< uÕska wkq.ukh lrkq ,nhs. ta flfia jqjo fuu wxY foflysu wfkl=;a wdh;kj, fuka fi!LHh yd wdrlaIK ms<sn| l<ukdlrejl= ^Health & Safety Manager& oel.; fkdyels úh. fiajlhskaf.a woyig wkqj f.dúm< wdY%s; ffjoHjrhl= isàu jeo.;a lreKla jk w;r udisl fyda ff;%udisl ffjoHdh;khla meje;aùug jeo.;a fi!LHdrlaIs; l%ufõohla fõ. tfukau f.dúm< /lshdjg wkqhqla; lsÍug fmr wdrlaIl fuj,ï f,i f.dúm< mdjyka, ysiajeiqï yd we÷ï, uqyqKq wdjrK ,nd§u isÿl, yel’ tfukau ;djld,slj n|jd.;a fiajlhska yg mjd ffjoH rlaIKhla ,nd§u o, ksrka;r Ndú;h i|yd m%:udOdr myiqlï f.dúm< ;=, mj;ajdf.k hEuo fiajlhskaf.a wfkl=;a fhdackd úh. úkh iy .eg¨ l<ukdlrKh wdh;ksl lghq;= ndOdjlska f;drj iduldñ f,i mj;ajd .ekSug úkh mj;ajd.ekSu iy .eg¨, fiajl ueisú,s l<ukdlrKh lsÍu b;du jeo.;a fõ. i,lkq ,enQ f.dúm< foflysu úkh iy .eg¨ l<ukdlrKh i|yd iïu; jQ úêu;a l%shdj,shla l%shd;aul fõ. f.dúm<j, fiajlhska kS;s iy Í;s ms,smÈk w;r úkh úfrdaë lghq;= isÿlrkakka yg úêu;a úkh l%shdud¾. ,nd§ we;. f.dúm< l<ukdldß;ajh fiajlhskaf.a .eg¨ j,g ijkafok w;r tajdg úi÷ï o ,ndfoa. tf,iu wxY foflysu úkh úfrdaë l%shd yuqfõ wdh;khj,ska bj;a lsÍu isÿlrkq ,nhs. 16

Knowledge product: contribution by FC & RI, TNJFU during the pandemic As a follow up of the aforementioned program, the problems faced by the farmers were taken to the researchers and deliberations were made by them in the platform “National webinar on AquacultureInnovations, Sustainability and Beyond”. The lead talk was on “Shrimp Farming- Current Scenario and Way Forward” which specified the positive and negative impact of COVID’19 on the summer crop. This was followed by sessions on Production of Marine Bivalves – Trends, Challenges and Research Progress, Aquariculture – a lucrative potential in the Indian Scenario, Formulated Aqua Feeds- Some thoughts on industrial potential and research needs, Cage based Aquaculture- Status and Future, Potential and Future of Seaweed Farming, Aquariculture- A focus towards sustainability and revival of endemic ornamental fauna and Aquariculture in Entrepreneurship Development. The training programs on ornamental fish farming, carp farming, murrel breeding and feed preparation were given to the farmers and public. The aim of the training programme on Ornamental Fish Farming is to provide skill based training in ornamental fish culture which will pave way for self-employment of the trainees by starting their own farming practices. In this training, details about commercially important ornamental fishes, their breeding behaviour, feeding, water quality and disease management, packaging and transportation of fishes and economics of ornamental farming along with state or centrally funded schemes were dealt in detail. The participants were also be Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University at Tamil Nadu is a leading University in India offering UG and PG courses in fisheries. The university has 3 colleges specifically offering fisheries course (B.F.Sc.). Among the 3 colleges, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin is the premiere institute which is 30 years old. The motto of the institute is teaching, research and extension. The college conducts various knowledge products like seminar, conferences, workshops and training programs for the benefit of the scientific and farming community. Many stakeholders meet are also being conducted for the benefit of industrialists. The training programs and farmers meets are aimed at improving the economic status of the fish farmers. Specific programs are also organized targeting women self help groups. In order to combat the negative effect of COVID’19 on the economics of the fish farmers, the institute organized many webinars. One of the important program conducted was National webinar on “COVID 19 on the Aquaculture Sector- Challenges and Future”. The main aim of this webinar was to discuss about the serious impact of COVID 19 pandemic on the different aquaculture sectors like ornamental fish farming, shrimp farming, hatcheries and feed sector and transits. Industrialists were invited as speakers and they shared the problems they encountered because of COVID 19. The Director of Ananda Enterprises India Pvt. Ltd, Bhimavaram, India showcased the Nutrifish weekend combo pack they have developed to sustain nutrition supply to everyone during the pandemic. Industrialists not only shared their problems but also expressed the positive steps they have taken to sustain the small scale industries. An ornamental fish farmer also participated in the webinar as a speaker and presented the issues faced by the ornamental fish sector on the live feed supply chains, distribution of fishes and marketing online being banned at present due to the COVID19 impact. Judith Betsy, C., Anix Vivek Santhiya, A. and Ahilan, B. TNJFU- Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India 17

taken on an exposure visit to the ornamental fish culture unit of Freshwater Fish Farm complex at this college so as to gain hands on knowledge in ornamental fish culture and learn the onsite practices followed in ornamental fish farm. Under the training on breeding and seed production technology of murrel, importance and biology of murrel, brooder selection, hormonal induction method, breeding, spawn collection, larval rearing techniques, feed and feeding management and its economics were explained. Demonstration was also given to the participants on induced breeding of murrel. In carp farming training, candidate species for carp farming, site selection and pond construction, preparation of ponds, stocking, water quality management, feed and feeding management, disease management, harvest methods and marketing was dealt along with the field level demonstration. Nutrifish weekend combo pack developed by Ananda Enterprises India Pvt. Ltd, Bhimavaram Glimpse of the National webinar on Aquaculture- Innovations, Sustainability and Beyond The Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin aims to improve the livelihood of the farmers through these knowledge products and documents the beneficiaries also. The farmers who have undergone training at the institute are continuously monitored and they are provided with technical services as and when they need it. Later, the success story of the farmers in their respective farming sector are also documented by the institute and are released in the university website for the benefit of the public. 18

Demonstration on feed preparation to the farmers Field visit to the progressive ornamental fish farmers’ farm for training on ornamental fish farming Participants of training on breeding and seed production technology of murrel 19

Re-emergence of Seri industry in Sri Lanka: A Sustainable solution for poverty alleviation and economic stability Climate suitability Seri industry needs mean annual rainfall of 600mm to 2500mm, pH range of 6.2 to 6.8, well-drained loamy to clay soil, 65 to 80 percent relative humidity, mean temperature of 24 and 28 oC, and a sunshine duration of 5 to 12 hours per day. Therefore, many places in Wet Zone, Dry Zone, and Intermediate Zones in Sri Lanka meet the required conditions, and most suitable to establish the Seri industry and expand as per the economic requirement of the country. Land availability and use As per the world data atlas, total agricultural land area in Sri Lanka is 28,086 sq. km (45.4%). Arable land as a share of the land area of Sri Lanka went up by 3.94 % from 21.3 % in 2017 to 22.2 % in 2018. Nearly 16.2 % of the agricultural land area is occupied by permanent crops and rest of the 6% land can be used for other agricultural purposes. Therefore, the land will not be an issue to re-introduce and expand the Seri-industry in Sri Lanka (Figure 1). Inter-cropping of mulberry plants, which is used feed the silkworm, with coconut is another option to efficiently utilize the land. In a one-acre adult coconut plantation, 3500-5000 mulberry plants can be grown. Undercoconut mulberry cultivation could generate an additional income of Rs. 25,000 to 30,000, 2 to 2.5 MT of fuel wood per acre per annum, and open additional employment opportunities of 1.5 to 2 workers per acre. Dr. Kandiah Pakeerathan Department of Agricultural Biology Faculty of Agriculture University of Jaffna Ariviyal Nagar, Kilinochchi Introduction The silk is the natural fiber from the insect (salivary gland excretion of the silkworm) and is called as “Queen of Textiles” due to its royalty, popularity, and demand. The silk industry is an eco-friendly, highly labour intensive, natural resources consuming low investment-oriented industry. Therefore, promoting such industry is timely needed to hunt foreign reserves needed for the country to hop up with the economic crisis and the sovereignty of the country. Sri Lanka has a long history of the sericulture industry since the 17th century, and between 1980-92 around >400ac extended 16 government farms were run profitability in Pallekale, Vaddakkachchi, Iranaimadu, Korana, Galaka, and Battigama. Thereafter, Seri industry of Sri Lanka started to collapse slowly due to the introduction of synthetic silk at cheaper prices and religious believe. Now, Sri Lanka imports raw materials to produce value-added textiles from other countries. Sri Lanka’s textile & garment exports are all set to cross $5.07 billion in 2021. Therefore, the textile industry plays a major role in foreign earnings to Sri Lanka. Among the text tiles, silk is the world’s 96th most traded product. Sri Lanka imported $ 20.4 M worthy silk in the year 2020 but Sri Lanka’s silk exports were only US$11,462,000 in 2021. Year by year Sri Lanka’s raw silk import is increasing due to the demand of local consumption and the handloom sector to produce value-added products. Considering the current economic crisis, Sri Lanka should promote local Silk production and expansion of silk industry for various reasons; 1. To prevent the wastage of foreign reserves 2. To open more employment opportunities 3. To secure economic sustainability through the continuous export earnings 4. To secure the export-oriented rural based handloom textile Industry Strengths to re-introduce the Seri industry in Sri Lanka 20

Labor force In 2020, the total number of estimated employed persons in Sri Lanka is about 8.0 million and of which, 29.0 percent are engaged in the Agriculture sector. Still, the economically inactive population of the country is about 8.4 million. The unemployment rate of the youth is 23.80% among the overall unemployment of 4.84% in 2020/2021. The unemployment rate of the county is expected to increase due to the current economic crisis. Therefore, reintroduction and expansion of Seri industry at the village level will open a window for substantial employment opportunities particularly, women headed families and unskilled persons from the economically weaker societies. For example, in India, China, and Thailand, nearly 7.9 million, one million, and 20,000 workers are employed in the silk sector, respectively. Figure 1: Sericulture in nutshell Market demand Among the text tiles, silk is the world’s 96th most traded product. Sri Lanka’s textile & garment exports hunting substantial foreign income annually in billions US dollars. In 2020, Sri Lanka’s clothing exports fetched $3.939 billion, a fall of 24.3 percent over $5.205 billion in 2019 and again hit $5 billion in 2021. Sri Lanka imported $ 20.4 million worthy silk in the year 2020, but Sri Lanka’s silk exports were only $11.462 million in 2021. The past five year’s data projects that the Sri Lanka’s raw silk import is always higher than the export due to the demand for local consumption and the handloom sector to produce value-added products (Figure 2). Figure 2: Import trend of Silk in Sri Lanka between 2015-2020 The usage of natural silk dresses and silk-based products is high in Sri Lanka. If silk is locally produced, there is no doubt that it will find a good market opportunity in Sri Lanka as well as in world market. The current scenario is quite fitted to take up the industry forward and capture the market. 21

Weakness, Opportunities and Threat • Exiting mulberry germplasms are traditional varieties (Jaffna local variety and kanva 2 Indian varieties). Now high yielding and agro–ecological– specific varieties of the mulberry plant are available in many countries. Fast Breeding of suitable highyielding varieties using molecular approaches for the various agro-ecological region in Sri Lanka is feasible and very much important. • Multiplication of silkworm breeds especially suited to local breeding and rearing conditions is also very much important. In the 1980s, mulberry silkworm breeding stock comprised of 46 pure lines introduced from Japan, Korea, and India and maintained by the silkworm breeding centre at Nillambe under the Silk and Allied Products Development Authority. The cross breeding of traditional breeds with potential hybrids will be helpful to get high silk yield. Technical and technology support to silk industry sector people who are engaged in the processing are very important to enhance their skills to ensure the quality silk is being produced in desired quantity to run the industry profitably. • Due to the political dilemma and unavailability of a strong economic policy framework, corruptions in management, and bureaucratic complexity of government, investors are not much interested to invest in silk industry. Moreover, forecasted risks of the transaction and fluctuating exchange, insufficient import-based raw materials, a sharp decline in the tourism sector, further increased the risk very much, and slow down or shutdown of traditional silk production centers due to the inability of getting foreign orders. • Lack of sufficient research, extension training and insufficient quantity of qualified personnel in sericulture are limited in Sri Lanka, but there are opportunities available to get high tech training from neighboring countries like china and India through scholarships programmes. The extension system should work actively to train the technical personnel with medium and low – level skills in the country. Educate the silk industry people related to quality standards of silk, marketing strategies, value-added product production methods, and strategies to get a high profit and attract the local and foreign markets to sell at higher prices. The market prices regulation for raw silk and monitory and regularly mechanism need to be implemented by the government intervention. The major limiting factor to expanding the silk production is the importation of silk-based products from other countries at remarkably low prices as well as high quality. Therefore, Government has to implement import restrictions or high tariff regulations to control the importation of silk-based products. • Market competition: Around the world, there are a lot of vast extensively silk-producing countries running the silk industry for a long time. Therefore, definitely, Sri Lanka needs to compete with the other countries to market its own silk. There are excellent opportunities available to Sri Lanka are 1. There is a huge demand for Sri Lankan brands of text tiles in foreign markets; 2. More than 40 lacks of Sri Lankans are living around the foreign countries, therefore, if we create awareness to purchase our product, that could be substantial enough to sell our brand; 3. GSP+ tax exemption will be an opportunity to market our silk in a competitive basis. In conclusion, there is a huge demand for the products of silk in local and foreign markets. Past history of sericulture in Sri Lanka promises that climatic factors and human capital are favorable for successfully run the Seri industry. Re-emerging Sericulture by implementing successful strategies used in past, and establishing short/medium/ long term policy frameworks to hop-up from the predicted weakness and threats will be ideal to secure economic sustainability through the continuous export earnings. References Lea, H. Z., & Alwis, S. M. D. (1995). Genetic Structure of the Mulberry Silkworm Population in Sri Lanka: I. Estimation of Combining Ability and Heritability. Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science, 37(1), 10-15. Dias, N. S. (1989). Mulberry under coconut. sericulture increases coconut profitability. Silk & Allied Products Development Authority, 1-4. TR Gurung, SM Bokhtiar, & D. Kumar (Eds.) (2015). Sericulture Scenario in SAARC Region. A re-emerging industry for poverty alleviation in SAARC Region, SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 22

Fruits Dehydration to Secure Them for The Future Figure 01 – Dryer Machine Figure 02 - Trays in the dehydrator W.H.T.R.Maduwanthi, Prof. S.H.P. Malkanthi Department of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, D Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka ehydration and safe packaging of fruits and vegetables during peak harvest periods is an effective way to prevent food waste. Preserving food by drying it is a traditional process from ancient times. Dehydration is one of the world’s oldest and simplest food preservation methods. This removes the water/ moisture present in the food and thus inhibits the activity of microorganisms that cause food spoilage due to dehydration. This prevents the enzymatic action of microorganisms, especially those living on the food. Due to this, food can be preserved for a long time by dehydrating it. In the past, food requirements were met mainly through this process. Under this theory, research has been done by drying fruits and vegetables using dehydration techniques and about 20% of the perishable food crops in the world can be preserved by this method. Vegetables, fruits, meat and fish can be considered as dehydrating foods. Dehydrated fruits, vegetables and meat items were used a lot in the past, but in recent times the use of these dehydrated foods has been low. But today, due to food crisis, economic situation and the purpose of generating new income, dehydrated fruits, vegetables and meat items are becoming popular among many people. Hence these products create a huge market worldwide. 23

Therefore, knowing about the types of foods that can be dehydrated, the process of dehydration and the various methods that can be used to dehydrate food products is more useful for the future. This even opens up the possibility of starting a dehydrated food business very easily. Dehydration process is easier and cheaper than other food preservation methods, this method can be used for every vegetable and fruit crop, vegetables and fruits can be consumed during periods of scarcity or no crops, high prices can be obtained in the off-season. etc. are the advantages of dehydrating vegetables and fruits. The following methods are the most common dehydration methods in the world from the past. Sun drying This is a common practice in our society since many years. We still use this method of drying in the sun most of the time in our house to dry things. Food usually takes a few days to dry thoroughly. Sun drying is done as shown in Figure 03. Air drying Sun drying and air drying are common practices for dehydrating food. This method is suitable for foods that require low heat to dry, such as greens and herbs. Sun drying This method is an improved method of sun drying. The solar dryer works outdoors and can be designed according to the required size and shape. Although the above methods can be used to dehydrate food, in some cases these methods are not effective. Changes in weather and soil characteristics, rains for most of the year, some time required for the dehydration process, drying of some food items by these methods are not very effective, they cannot be dried uniformly, there is a possibility of changes in colour, taste, etc., and the fall of waste and Dehydration methods are not very effective due to animal damage. Also, these methods cannot be used at commercial level. A food dehydrator can be used to reduce such problems that may occur while dehydrating food. A dehydrator is a specialized machine designed for commercial dehydration with the development of the market for dehydrated foods. Equipped with electric fans and heat generators to dry your food quickly and efficiently. These dehydrators can be powered by electricity, gas, kerosene, wood or other means. As shown in the figure 02, the vegetables and fruits are cut into small pieces and packed in the trays inside the dehydrator. Dehydration process is easier and cheaper than other food preservation methods, this method can be used for every vegetable and fruit crop, vegetables and fruits can be consumed during periods of scarcity or no crops, high prices can be obtained in the off-season. etc. are the advantages of dehydrating vegetables and fruits. Fruits and vegetables can be dehydrated and packaged in bottles as shown in Figure 4. Figure 03 - Sun drying food Figure 04 – Dehydrated Foods 24

Dehydration can dehydrate and preserve excess vegetables and fruits suitable for everyday consumption at business or household level. Different types of dehydrators are available today. A dehydrator of the type shown in Figure 1. Fully electric all mode controllable dehydrator and powder hearth food dehydrator are some of them. A wider range of products can be processed using these dehydrators. This dehydrator with a capacity of about 10kg has a small electric fan. It distributes the heat evenly in the machine. Wood can be used as fuel here. All the parts of most of the plants in our country with fertile land have edible or medicinal properties that we can use. By giving value to these we will be able to earn good income. Dehydration is a great way to preserve ingredients as well as add value to them. A dehydrator can dehydrate food, and market value-added products, and good packaging with an attractive label, have the potential to create a good market both domestically and internationally. We can dry any material with dehydrator without any change in colour, aroma, taste. As shown in Figure 05 Jackfruit, Breadfruit, Cassava, Sweet potato, and sweet potato can be used for products made using bread flour by dehydrating them into flour. Due to the import of bread flour into Sri Lanka, the market price of bread flour fluctuates frequently. Flour is a widely consumed food item in Sri Lanka. The use of flour made from dehydrated cassava, sweet potato and jackfruit as a substitute for flour will contribute to health as well as economy. Cassava and jackfruit go unutilized and go to waste during the season when they are abundantly harvested. A good solution to avoid this wastage is to dehydrate them and save them for future consumption. Also, this dehydrator can dehydrate plant material with medicinal properties without harming its quality. In the last season, turmeric cultivation was very widespread in Sri Lanka. We can use dehydration technology to develop dried turmeric for export so that this turmeric harvest is not wasted. These are very good ways to increase our country’s exports and earn foreign exchange. Blue pea is a high-quality, high-quality plant. A good market can be built by dehydrating these and packing them well. Medicinal plants such as Thebu, Heen Bovitia,Shatavari, Moringa, Katupila, Yaki narang, Karapincha, Belimal can be dehydrated and made into tea bags. Today, due to their medicinal properties, they are in high demand both locally and abroad. As shown in Figure 6, this drug can be used to dry up plants and turn them into powder. Even if children are fed healthy vegetables, they are reluctant to eat them. This has become a big problem Figure 05 - Dehydrated cassava and sweet potato Figure 06 - Dehydrated and powdered leaves Figure 07 - Dehydrated mango & banana 25

for mothers who think about the nutrition of their children. An easy way to add these highly nutritious greens like Mukununwanna, Gotukola, Gonika leaves, and Moringa leaves to children’s diet is to dehydrate them and grind them into a powder. A good demand can be created by drying and powdering these with a dehydrator and presenting them in an attractive package. As shown in Figure 07, fruits such as papaya, banana, mango, anoda, pineapple can also be dehydrated, and various value-added products can be made using them. Thus, dehydration can create a higher value for each food. Popularizing this dehydration technology is a good aspect to gain a lot of benefits for the country as well as the rural people economically. In the study of this dehydrated food market, it was revealed that consumers do not have proper knowledge about how they can consume this dehydrated food. Therefore, it is possible to create a market with high demand by educating consumers about these foods in various ways. Awareness programs, training programs, training programs on dehydrated food preparation, distribution of brochures, instruction leaflets on how to use them, can be given to the consumers through actions, such as information on dehydrated foods. In discussion with most of the rural entrepreneurs who are already dehydrating food, it is understood that they do not have much knowledge about proper packaging of these foods, choosing suitable packaging for each product, labelling and presentation to the market. By conducting training programs and strengthening them to solve such problems, these dehydrated foods can be popularized and a good opportunity can be created in the local market as well as in the foreign market. This is a very good opportunity not only for the owners of the dehydrators but also for the people living around them to gain an economic advantage. Many foods like cassava, sweet potato, sweet potato, kohila, tebu, heinbowitia, gourd, curry, drumstick, jackfruit, mango, papaya can be grown without any fertilizer. By growing such things in one’s own garden, one can earn income by selling them to those who do the dehydrating without letting their fruit go to waste. It is a very good opportunity to overcome the existing economic difficulties. Food dehydration is a good way to give high value to these valuable resources in our country. This dehydration technology is the most suitable method to make food which is scarce in Sri Lanka. The Department of Agriculture is working hard to popularize these dehydrated foods with the support of the Office Assistant Director of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture popularized this dehydrated food by providing free dehydrating machines, conducting training programs on food dehydration, conducting training programs on how dehydrating machines work, training programs on how to pack them, holding food exhibitions and making people aware of it. Plays such a big role to do. 26

The Changes in Farming Performances of Minor Export Crop Sector in Kandy district during Exchange Rate Crisis 1. Exchange rate crisis and Export sector in Sri Lanka Exports have become important more than ever with the multiple challenges faced by the country today. The unexpected changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and unexpected sharp depreciation of exchange rate from the beginning of 2022, severely impacted to the Sri Lankan economy. This depreciation has most negatively impacted on peoples’ day today life due to increment of inflation rate. Therefore, several sectors in the country have faced challenges are abundant in all spheres of lives of individuals as well as industries. When considering about exchange rate changes over the time, it has slightly appreciated and depreciated over 10 years and it was suddenly showed sharp depreciation from the beginning of 2022. Figure 1- Exchange rate fluctuation over past 10 years Sources – Central Bank of Sri Lanka,2022 Appreciation and depreciation of countries currency can be observed in world wide. Currency depreciation is the loss of value of a country’s currency with respect to one or more foreign reference currencies (Raza, 2013). According to Raza, currency depreciation mainly two types, Anticipated and Unanticipated exchange rate depreciation. Anticipated exchange rate depreciation determines the cost of imported intermediate goods and, hence, the output supplied. In contrast, unanticipated currency fluctuations determine aggregate demand through exports, imports, and the demand for currency, and determine aggregate supply through the cost of imported intermediate goods (Adekunle and Ndukwe, 2018). As per their view the first Anticipated exchange rate depreciation enhance aggregate demand; currency depreciation increases exports and decreases imports. An unexpected depreciation decreases aggregate demand the domestic currency, relative to its anticipated steady-state value, increases the demand for domestic currency. On the supply side, currency depreciation increases the cost to buy intermediate goods and decreases the output supplied. D.L.R.S. Sampath, K.N.N.Silva Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna 27

2. Impact of Exchange Rate Changes on Agriculture sector Exchange rate is an important economic variable influencing the export, import, and prices of agricultural products worldwide. While stronger countries currency makes that country exports more expensive in other countries, it also reduces the cost of imported products, resulting in lower prices for inland. A weaker currency has the opposite effects, leading to increased exports and higher producer prices, but lower imports and higher prices for consumers. Both currency depreciation and a currency appreciation are, in most cases, short term in nature. Their effects occur during the first several months after the exchange rate change (Fidan, 2006). Although the main scenario was like that it can be deviate process. Sometimes appreciation of currency can also increase export. However it is not a common to all situations (Buguk et al., 2001). One of the affecting factors which also decrease the exchange rate on foreign trade is lost about reflection. Adjustments of exchange rate frequently done takes progress in favor of exporter for relative price and against importer (Imimole and Enoma, 2011). This, increase exporter’s revenue and importer’s cost. At the same time, this stimulates export, dissuading an import. Exchange rate is important economic variable because it is used to convert foreign prices into domestic currency and vice versa. These prices determine which goods are traded and where they are shipped or sourced. Being able to convert one currency into another at the prevailing exchange rate is crucial to international business and decision making. The difference in relative prices determines the flow of agricultural products and the patterns of trade (Me-Nsope and Larkins, 2016). 3. Performances of Export sector in exchange rate crisis in Sri Lanka As per the common intent, depreciation of exchange rate changes is negatively impact on every sector. In this context, close attention has been paid to the impact of the exchange rate fluctuations on countries export. Since each industry has its own characteristics, the exchange rate movements may have different effects on different industries. Therefore, as Arize (1998), pointed out, the impact of real exchange rate fluctuations on export trade must be further investigated in the commodity level. In general, compared to manufactured goods, agricultural products have such special industry nature as lower initial cost of investment, the existence of long-term contracts etc. It is generally acknowledged that the impact of exchange rate movements on agricultural trade is different from that on manufactured goods trade. Arize, (1998) confirmed, compared to other industries, the real exchange rate uncertainty has a more significant negative effect on agricultural trade. However, some studies indicated that, for a certain agricultural product, the impacts of exchange rate movements vary across countries, and for a certain country, the impacts vary across agricultural products as well (Me-Nsope and Larkins, 2016). 4. Impact of the exchange rate depreciation on minor export sector performance Kandy is a major district which mainly involves with minor export crop production, especially Nutmeg and mace, Pepper, Clove, Cardamom, Vanilla, Coffee etc. Under this survey mainly focused on Nutmeg, Pepper and Clove cultivation and impact on their farmer performances. There are 36 Divisional Secretarial in Kandy district. Among them and 3 divisional secretarial – Pujapitiya, Hatharaliyadda, Kundasale was selected for this study according to their contribution towards minor export production land extent to the total Kandy district minor exports production. Figure 2- Distribution of minor export production over DS in Kandy Sources – Department of export Agriculture, 2018 28

Figure 3: Income of minor export Sector in Sri Lanka Source – Economic and Social statistics report 2022 – Central Bank of Sri Lanka 5. Minor export crop sector in Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, 24.8% of gross export earnings are derived at from agricultural export crops. The contribution of minor export crops toward the GDP is 2.58%. in Sri Lanka, 27.3% of the employed population engaged with this agriculture sector and only 2.3% employed population engaged with minor export crop sector. Nutmeg, Clove and Pepper production in Kandy district contributes respectively 85.6%, 73.97%% and 38.43% from national production (Census and Statistics Department, 2021 - Agriculture and Environmental statistics division). 6. Changes in farming performances of the minor export sector due to the recent exchange rate crisis Due to the exchange rate crisis, farmers’ cost of production, market performance and income level have been significantly changed in Kandy district. This Exchange rate crisis has increased all three products income and highest gross income changes have happened to Clove farmers. Nearly 100% and Pepper and Nutmeg respectively 94%, 62%. Furthermore, lowest growth of cost is also reported by Clove. Therefore, income from clove has been highly and positively impacted by the exchange rate crisis. Even though, this exchange rate crisis impacted negatively for the society from many sectors, it is positively impacted on minor export crop sector enhancing their demand. Minor export crop sector is one of the best cultivations to follow for farmers due to its low cost of maintenance, zero irrigation and minimal seedling, fertilizer cost. Labor cost is also mainly required at the harvesting period except Pepper cultivation. Risk and uncertainty for the harvest of Nutmeg, Clove, and Pepper is very low related to other horticultural crops. Farmers’ low level of awareness is the one of major barrier to enhance production of the country. Another major barrier is importing low quality spices. Imposing strict and fruitful policies and conducting awareness sessions is necessary under this situation. Therefore, impacts of exchange rate crisis on minor export crop farmer’s performance should not be underestimated. Figure 4: changes of minor export Sector performance in Kandy district 29

Table 01: percent changes of minor export sector Average Gross Income per season(Rs.) Average Labour Cost (per day/Rs./ person) Average Transport Cost (Rs./km) Average Change of overall Cost (Rs.) Nutmeg 62% 93% 95% 58% Clove 104% 48% 34% 29% Pepper 94% 60% 82% 58% 7. Recommendation to mitigate the future crisis High transport cost is the one of major impact on increasing farmer production cost. To prevent this, farmers can encourage to rent transportation as groups. Due to recent banging of use of chemical fertilizers, the price has been highly increased. Due to that reason, farmers (mostly Pepper farmers) were tending to terminate use of fertilizers. Hence, impose maximum price for fertilizers is must. Importing Nutmeg, Clove and Pepper is another major problem in Sri Lanka. It competes with domestic production and farmers get low income due to this competition. Therefore, imposing tax for import Nutmeg, Mace and Clove is must. According to the analyzed data all the production costs, income, market price, were changed, except of production quantity. Even though, the unit price was highly increased farmers’ production quantity was not improved due to their low level of awareness of the impact of exchange rate crisis on economy and export agriculture sector. Therefore, conduct awareness programs for farmers to enhance their awareness on market performances is necessary. Introduce hybrid and developed plants which produce harvest in short time period is another recommendation to improve farmers’ performances. Due to the time duration of the plants take to produce the first harvest. It is nearly 8-9 Years. International Food and Agribusiness Marketing, 13(1), pp. 83–105. doi:10.1300/J047v13n01_06. Fidan, H. (2006) ‘Impact of the Real Effective Exchange Rate ( Reer ) on Turkish Agricultural Trade’, International Journal of Social Sciences, 1(2), pp. 70–82. Imimole, B. and Enoma, A. (2011) ‘Exchange Rate Depreciation and Inflation in Nigeria ( 1986 – 2008 )’, Business and Economics Journal, 2011(July 2011), pp. 1–12. Kandil, M. (2004) ‘Exchange Rate Fluctuations and Economic Activity in Developing Countries: Theory and Evidence’, Journal of Economic Development , 29(1), pp. 85–108. Mashayekhi, A.N. (1991) ‘The impact of exchange rate policy on inflation rate in an oil‐exporting economy’, System Dynamics Review, 7(2), pp. 117–144. doi:10.1002/sdr.4260070203. McKenzie, M.D. (2004) ‘The effects of exchange rate volatility on trade’, Exchange Rate Regimes in East Asia, pp. 237–252. doi:10.4324/9780203356401. Me-Nsope, N. and Larkins, M. (2016) ‘This document is discoverable and free to researchers across the globe due to the work of AgEcon Search . Help ensure our sustainability .’, Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security, 1(3), pp. 1–22. Raza, A. (2013) ‘Effects of Currency Depreciation on Trade Balances of Developing Economies: A Comprehensive Study on South Asian Countries’, IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science, 14(6), pp. 101–106. doi:10.9790/0837-146101106. Sekkat, K. and Varoudakis, A. (1998) ‘Exchange rate management and manufactured exports in Sub-Saharan Africa’, Revue d’Economie du Developpement, 98(2), pp. 55–89. doi:10.3406/ recod.1998.984. Weliwita, A. and Tsujii, H. (2000) ‘The Exchange Rate and Sri Lanka’s Trade Deficit’, Journal of Economic Development, 25(2), pp. 131–157. Referencess Adekunle, W. and Ndukwe, I. (2018) ‘Munich Personal RePEc Archive The Impact of Exchange Rate Dynamics on Agricultural Output Performance in Nigeria The Impact of Exchange Rate Dynamics on Agricultural Output’, Munich Personal RePEc Archive [Preprint], (87755). Buguk, C. et al. (2001) ‘The Impact of Exchange Rate Variability on Agricultural Exports of Developing Countries: The Case of Turkey’, Journal of 30

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Foods or Pills Functional foods are food that offer extra health benefits beyond their nutritional benefits. This also can be interpreted as food where a new ingredient has been added, modified, or removed to produce a new food product with new function. This concept has originated in Japan in 1980s when the Japanese government agencies started approving foods with proven health benefits. The concept of functional foods implies that foods and food components could beneficially influence body functions and help to improve the state of well-being, health and to reduce the risk of diseases. Non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not spreads through infection or through other people but are typically caused by unhealthy behaviors. They are the leading cause of death worldwide and present a huge threat to health and development especially in low- and middle-income countries like Sri Lanka. Four types of non-communicable diseases account for over 2/3 of deaths globally are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. Yet these diseases are largely preventable. According to IFRC (the network of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), 80% of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and over 1/3 of cancer can be prevented by cutting out tobacco, eating a healthy diet, being physically active and quitting harmful use of alcohol. That being the case, use of functional foods ensure a healthy diet with the benefit of reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases. In consonance with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) the cause of most deaths in Sri Lanka is noncommunicable diseases. The Sri Lankan government spends nearly 3.8% of GDP on healthcare (both public and private) where a substantial amount is spent on importation of drugs and medicines required for noncommunicable diseases. With the prevailing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, government barely manage to import the vital drugs and medicines. Currently, the healthcare sector of Sri Lanka is in shortage of a variety of indispensable drugs and medicines with the high cost of importation. On the contrary, patients are also facing difficulties when buying the prescribed medicines with the skyrocketing prices. In consequence patients have tend to skip the medicine, quit taking medicine or taking reduced doses than the prescribed doses risking their lives. S. D. N. Kaushalya, M. D. Withanage Department of Export Agriculture Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture Uva Wellassa University 32

Functional foods can be used to surmount this issue by reducing the risk of new cases of noncommunicable diseases and by reducing the risk of severity of the particular disease by controlling them. Functional foods can be categorized as conventional functional foods and modified functional foods. Conventional functional foods are natural, whole food ingredients that are rich in nutrient components such as vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Meanwhile, modified functional foods have been fortified with additional ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, or fiber to increase the food’s health benefits. Though people are using these functional foods, especially conventional functional foods in their day-to-day lives, they lack knowledge and awareness about the functional properties of those foods. Sri Lanka is a country with variety of natural food ingredients in its entirety where their functional properties can be acquitted. There is a surfeit of underutilized food ingredients where their health benefits have not yet been addressed. It is crucial to grasp the functional properties of those foods and acknowledge the community regarding the health benefits of those foods. Increasing awareness among consumers about health promoting foods has aroused interest in food supplement research worldwide. This fact has brought great interest for searching new functional ingredients that can contribute to develop new opportunities in the relevant applications. However, it is important to study about functional properties, their applications, and health benefits and to manifest them. This can be accomplished by encouraging local universities to conduct research with respect to functional properties of conventional food ingredients and to develop novel functional food products. In fact, this can aid to overcome pills over foods. FOODS PILLS 33

Protection Of Smallholder Tea Producers To Manage The Economic Crisis In Sri Lanka The agriculture sector is one of the major sectors in Sri Lanka’s economy. The agricultural sector contributes about 7.8% to the national GDP of Sri Lanka (Central Bank Report, 2021). This percentage comprises general agriculture including plantation crops and non-plantation crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries sub-sectors. Out of these sectors, the forestry and fisheries sectors contribute around 6.1% percentage (Central Bank Report, 2021). 41.8% of the land area is devoted to agriculture. When considering agricultural crop cultivation, it can be divided into three main types. These are food crops (rice, fruits, vegetables, field crops), plantation crops (tea, rubber, coconut, sugarcane, oil palm), and ornamental crops. When someone is doing crop cultivation, they need fertilizer, agricultural equipment, and machinery as external factors. Nowadays Sri Lanka has faced the worst economic crisis. Lack of foreign reserves, hits the tourism industry, agri-sector crisis, tax cuts, and government mismanagement when repaying the debts, they used foreign reserves to repay debts. And also, RussiaUkraine conflict is another main reason which affects the Sri Lanka economic crisis. The lack of dollars caused by the economic crisis is having a severe impact on agriculture. Those effects can be summarized as follows; loss of dollars to import fertilizer and agro-chemicals, loss of dollars to import agriculture machinery and equipment, lack of fuel and power failure due to the failure of the agricultural production process and transportation. April 29.2021 brought a major agriculture policy shift to Sri Lanka with the government announcing that Sri Lanka would turn into the first organic-only economy in the world. In one fell swoop. Sri Lanka’s government banned chemical-based farming in the country and farmers stood up against this unconditional hasty decision. Tea is one of the major crops that can enhance our export earnings. The tea industry has played a crucial P.H.N.Kumari and S H P Malkanthi Department of Agribusiness Management Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 34

role in the economic development of Sri Lanka, which is a major producer and exporter of tea in the world. While its relative importance has waned over the years due to a lack of dynamism and rapid growth of the nonagricultural sector, tea remains a vital industry in terms of its contribution to national output, employment, and net foreign exchange earnings. The smallholders are the largest contributors to Sri Lanka’s tea production. In Sri Lanka, smallholder tea producers grow 70 per cent of the country’s tea and bring in significant export earnings (Bathige, 2022). At present, 60 per cent of the total tea land is cultivated by smallholders in the country. There are several definitions for a tea smallholder in Sri Lanka, and tea lands less than 10 acres are considered “Tea Small Holdings” as stated in the Tea Control Act (1958). At times, the Sri Lanka Tea Board has implemented development activities on lands between 10 and 50 acres as smallholder development. Overall, there are variations in the definition of a land area of a Tea Smallholder. Meanwhile, Tea smallholders face several challenges regarding tea production. They can be explained as follows. Challenges Faced By Tea Smallholders • Non-availability of essential inputs: The inaccessibility of resources such as fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, and equipment is one of the main constraints for small tea growers. The Small Tea Development Authority has recently attempted to make fertilizer available in closer locations, but availability in convenient locations is still limited. • Market for Green Leaves: Very often, unstable prices and markets force for small tea producers to sell tea to different factories. Small-scale tea farmers make decisions to sell green-leaf tea based on the price offered. On the whole, the market varies from region to region and from village to village. It is better to have a system for pricing based on the quality of the green leaves, and the factory should report the price directly to the small tea producers. Most smallholders do not depend on tea societies to sell green-leaf tea. • Quality of Green Leaves: Small-scale tea growers are little aware of the importance of leaf quality. Because the price they receive for the leaves is independent of the quality of the leaves, there is little incentive for smallholders to maintain quality. • Inadequate out-reach extension facilities: In this aspect, the lack of a proper extension program through an effective extension service network is very important, which has resulted in low yields per acre. The Small Tea Farm Development Authority did not have sufficient resources for maintenance. Although the authority of the Authority is broad, its resources and manpower are insufficient to provide basic services. • Lack of ready credit facilities: This is one of the main factors that encourage smallholders to refrain from introducing new technologies. The farmer needs funds to implement the recommendations. Most small tea owners, who are well acquainted with the improved practices recommended by the Tea Research Institute, do not use them due to financial difficulties, although they are aware of the benefits of these practices. Thus, having credit for small tea holders is critical. • Green Leaves Production and Prices: The price of a green leaf must always outstrip the prevailing cost of production if the small owner is to make a profit. Therefore, constant monitoring of the cost of production (COP) is necessary. This would help to make appropriate adjustments to the green leaf price. • Total cost of production per kg of green leaves: Beyond the initial outlay, in the beginning, small farmers have invested minimally in inputs such as fertilizer or even regular irrigation. Most of the total costs were for labor costs. • Use of Fertilizer and Pesticides: Small tea growers are not trained to implement advanced cultivation practices such as using fertilizers according to the soil in their plantations. Although smallholders are not trained in any fertilizer application methods, most of these smallholders use fertilizers in their tea cultivation. In most cases, the use of fertilizer is determined by its availability, which is distributed directly by the state, as well as by the long-term practice of applying organic fertilizers.In this context, it is essential to educate small tea growers on the use of fertilizers to improve plantation productivity. • Exploitation by private leaf collectors (middlemen): Lack of transport is the main obstacle for small landowners. A large number of smallholders depend on private leaf collectors to pick up and deliver their green leaves to factories. In this process, the green leaf picker resorts to various types of abuse. The smallholder must accept any price paid by the picker, as he is dependent on the picker to transport his sheet to distant factories. Although there is a guaranteed green leaf price, smallholders are paid less than the guaranteed minimum price. 35

Sri Lanka’s tea smallholders estimated a 30% Year-onYear (YoY) drop in harvests by the end of 2021, and a further halving of total production by March 2022 in the absence of a definite solution to acute fertilizer shortages following a controversial importation banning. Accounting for over 70% of Sri Lanka’s total tea production, the tea smallholder sector is comprised of approximately 500,000 landowners, spread across 138,900 hectares, 14 districts, and 123 Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD) and 3,692 Grama Niladari Divisions (GND), and is deeply connected to rural economies in over 5,000 villages, approximately 20% of the island’s rural population (Dairy FT, 2021). When considering this huge crisis can suggest several recommendations as follows. Recommendations can be suggested for three parties as tea small holders or farmers, researchers, and the government. Tea smallholders need to use cultural practices as much as possible, as chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals cause a negative impact on the environment and the living beings. This information can be provided to farmers through farming trainers and tea instructors as farmers prefer to participate in meetings of Tea Small Holder Development Society. In addition, farmers can apply integrated pest and weed management to effectively control pests and weeds rather than using agrochemicals. Farmer health concerns should be a major concern for policymakers when considering the economic viability of crops. Therefore, it is needed to educate and advise farmers on a safe and harmless methodology. Researchers including tea inspectors need to find out better alternatives for chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals. They can do research on possible alternatives for chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals soon and check the feasibility at the farmers’ level. Smallholder tea farmers should be given proper training by the tea inspectors on how to adopt Integrated Pest Management, Integrated Weed Management, and the benefit of taking preventive measures on the farm so that they can remain healthy. TRI in Sri Lanka conducts research into all aspects of tea production and processing. There are 36

four different objectives of the research program. First, increasing productivity by introducing new agricultural technologies. Second, reducing expenditure and thereby obtaining greater efficiency of production and increased profits. Third, improving existing manufacturing techniques to produce better teas. Fourths, devising new techniques to produce fundamentally new types of teas and tea-based products from inferior grades and waste teas for new markets. Programs are needed to develop and transfer technology to farmers for economically sustainable and environmentally acceptable chemical management of weeds, pests and fertilizers. Furthermore, the existing government should motivate farmers to use organic fertilizer, and researchers to carry out research and find suitable alternatives. Applying a holistic approach, better solutions need to find out immediately to save the tea sector and the whole agriculture sector in the country. Government should conduct research with relevant professionals in the industry and be concerned more about the impact of it before making a policy. Government should establish suitable programs to support smallholders to enhance their production. These recommendations are paramount factors to enhance both organic and inorganic tea production and enhance Sri Lankan export earnings significantly. The global organic tea market size was valued at USD 334.6 million in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 16.2% from 2020 to 2027. The rising importance of flavonoidbased food and beverages, which have antioxidant properties, is expected to expand the market scope over the next few years. In order to acquire a huge market for Sri Lankan organic tea. In conclusion, it is critical to be concerned more about the smallholders’ tea production due to smallholders are the largest contributors to Sri Lanka’s tea production in order to overcome this huge economic crisis. 37

India - Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Engagement The economic and commercial relationship between India and Sri Lanka is strong and expanding, and it has grown considerably over time. The increase of trade between India and Sri Lanka was greatly aided by the ISFTA’s (India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement) entrance into force in 2000. A thriving development relationship that covers areas like infrastructure, connectivity, transportation, housing, health, livelihood and rehabilitation, education, and industrial growth is another aspect of the two countries’ economic ties. • India has historically been one of Sri Lanka’s largest trading partners, and India continues to count Sri Lanka as one of its top SAARC trading partners. India was Sri Lanka’s second-largest trading partner in 2020, accounting for nearly $3.6 billion in bilateral product trade. Since 2000, when the ISLFTA entered into force, Sri Lanka’s exports to India have significantly expanded, and over 60% of the country’s overall exports to India during the past few years have benefited from the ISFTA provisions. It’s interesting to note that only 5% of India’s total exports to Sri Lanka over the previous few years have utilized the ISFTA provisions, demonstrating its general market competitiveness. • India is not only Sri Lanka’s biggest trading partner, but it also makes up a significant portion of the country’s foreign direct investment. Leading Indian businesses have made investments and established bases of operations in Sri Lanka. The BoI estimates that from 2005 to 2019, FDI from India totaled roughly US$ 1.7 billion. Petroleum retail, tourism, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, telecommunications, banking, and financial services are where India makes the majority of its investments. Similar to how Indian investments by Sri Lankan businesses are booming and utilizing India’s dynamic economy and larger market. MAS Holdings, Damro, LTL Holdings, Brandix (approximately USD 1 billion to establish a garment city in Visakhapatnam), and other investments are notable instances. • Prior to the pandemic, India was the main source market for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, aside from the expansion of trade and investment. The overall number of visitors arriving in Sri Lanka from India between January and December 2019 was 355,002, or roughly 18.2% of all visitors. Similar to this, Sri Lanka is one of the top 10 countries from which visitors come to India. The Indian High Commission in Colombo issued more than 107,360 tourist visas and 14,597 business visas in 2019 to promote travel between India and Sri Lanka. Dhwani Darji International Agri-Business Management Institute, Anand Agriculture University, India 38

• In order to improve connectivity between the two countries, India and Sri Lanka signed an Open Skies Agreement that allows Sri Lankan Airlines to fly as many times as they like to six Indian airports. Prior to the pandemic, Sri Lankan Airlines, which is also the biggest foreign airline in India, operated over 100 flights a week to 14 different Indian cities. Bilateral Agreements • A number of bilateral agreements, such as the bilateral free trade agreement, the double taxation avoidance agreement, and the bilateral investment protection and promotion agreement, offer a solid legal basis for the development of the economic relationship. Also, there are bilateral MoUs and agreements on air services, agriculture, small development projects, and economic project cooperation. There are also numerous agreements for cooperation in the fields of small-scale industries, tourism, telecom and IT, peaceful nuclear energy use, and science and technology. 1. India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) • The India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) was signed in 1998 and entered into force in March 2000. The ISFLTA took into account asymmetries between the two economies, local socio-economic sensitivities, necessity of safeguard measures to protect domestic interests. In a nutshell, India sought to do more without insisting on strict reciprocity from Sri Lanka. This is reflected in the respective obligations of the two countries under the ISLFTA, where India agreed to open more tariff lines upfront and within a shorter time span of three years as against smaller and more staggered openings by Sri Lanka which was provided a longer time period of eight years. • As a result of ISLFTA, currently 4150 Indian tariff lines have been made zero duty for Sri Lankan exports to India. Similarly, 3932 tariff lines have been made zero duty for Indian exports to Sri Lanka. In addition to these steps, India has offered quotas to Sri Lanka on certain tariff lines (a) 15 million tonnes of tea (5 tariff lines) with 50% margin of preference and no port entry restrictions since June 2007; (b) Textiles, where there is a 25% tariff reduction for 528 Textile items; and (c) Garments where there is 50% margin of preference on 8 million pieces over 233 tariff lines. The garments quota terms have been further liberalized through a MoU on 05 October 2007 following which the Government of India issued a Custom Notification No. 52/2008 dated 22 April 2008 giving immediate effect to the MoU. As a result, India reduced duty to zero and removed restrictions on entry ports and sourcing of fabrics from India for 3 million pieces of apparel from Sri Lanka. India has also removed port restrictions on the remaining 5 million pieces of apparel. These 5 million pieces of garments will be allowed to enter India at zero duty or Margin of Preference of 75% depending on the product category, provided that they are manufactured using Indian made fabrics. • As of now, 1180 tariff lines remain in the Sri Lanka’s negative list that includes agriculture/ livestock items, rubber products, paper products, iron and steel, machinery, and electrical items. On the Indian side, there are 429 items in the negative list, which include garments, plastic products and rubber products etc. • ISFTA Rules of Origin; In order to receive ISFTA benefits, the merchandise exported between India and Sri Lanka should comply with the following Rules of Origin criteria: a. Wholly Obtained Products - All wholly obtained products such as tea, fish, spices etc. will be able to enjoy duty free benefits in each other’s markets, provided they are eligible for duty concessions. b. Products not Wholly Produced or Obtained - These include the products manufactured using imported raw materials. In order to enjoy ISFTA benefits, the products should comply with the following criteria: • The Domestic Value Addition (DVA) in the exporting country should not be less than 35% of the FOB value of the finished product and • HS Codes of the imported raw materials and the finished products should be different at 4-digit level. (Change of Tariff Heading criteria) • Cumulative Rules of Origin • The Cumulative Rules of Origin encourage the contracting states (India and Sri Lanka) to source raw materials needed for their exports from each other. Accordingly, an exporter has to show only a minimum DVA of 25% of the FOB value of the finished product, provided the raw materials imported from the other contracting state accounts for not less than 10% of the FOB value of the particular product. (In other words, the aggregate value addition should not be less than 35% of the FOB value of the finished product, while the DVA 39

in the exporting country should be minimum 25% of the FOB value). • Under SAFTA, the Rules of Origin and Cumulative Rules of Origin are slightly different and the SAFTA agreement text must be consulted before making use of this provision. • Operational Certification Procedures (OCP): Both ISLFTA and SAFTA specify Operational Certification Procedure for obtaining Certificates of Origin (COO) to make products eligible for concessions in the country of export under the relevant agreements. These must be carefully consulted and followed. The validity of the COO under SAFTA is 12 months and can be issued within 3 working days of the shipment of the product. • For ISLFTA it is advisable to obtain COO before the consignment is shipped to avail benefits under the ISLFTA. 2. South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) • The Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) came into force from 1st January, 2006. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are categorized as Non-Least Developed Contracting States (NLDCS) and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan and Nepal are categorized as Least Developed Contracting States (LDCS). With SAFTA in force, the concessions under SAPTA signed in 1995 ceased in respect of Sri Lanka and India as they are classified as NLDCS. • Article 7 of the SAFTA Agreement provides for a phased tariff liberalization program (TLP) under which, in two years, NLDCS would bring down tariffs to 20%, while LDCS will bring them down to 30%. Non-LDCS will then bring down tariffs from 20% to 0-5% in 5 years (Sri Lanka 6 years), while LDCS will do so in 8 years. NLDCS will reduce their tariffs for LDCS products to 0-5% in 3 years. This TLP would cover all tariff lines except those kept in the sensitive list (negative list) by the member states. • The salient features of the four Annexes of SAFTA Agreement are as under: • Rules of Origin: For giving preferential access to the Member Countries under SAFTA, the goods should have undergone substantial manufacturing process in the exporting countries. The substantial manufacturing processes are defined in terms of twin criteria of Change of Tariff Heading (CTH) at four-digit Harmonized Coding System (HS) and value content of 40% (30% for LDCS). • Apart from the general rules, SAFTA provides for Products-Specific Rules (PSR) for 191 tariff lines to accommodate the interest of LDCS given their limited base for natural resources and undiversified industrial structure. The Products Specific Rules have been provided clearly on technical grounds i.e. where both inputs and outputs are at the same four-digit HS level. • Sensitive List or Negative List: As can be seen above, Bangladesh has 1,233 products on the sensitive list for LDCS and 1,241 for the NLDCS under the SAFTA. India has 480 items on the sensitive list for the LDCS and 868 for the nonLDCS. Bhutan has 150 items for both LDCS and non-LDCS. Nepal has 1,257 items for LDCS and 1,295 for non-LDCS. The Maldives has 681 for all seven SAFTA nations. Pakistan had 1,169 in its sensitive list, Sri Lanka has 1,042 and Afghanistan has 1,072 items on the negative list. 3. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) • Following the FTA, the two Governments were encouraged by its positive outcomes and success, and felt that more action was required to unleash the full potential of our bilateral economic relations. Accordingly, during the visit of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to India in June 2002, the two governments decided to set up a Joint Study Group to explore possibilities of starting negotiations for a CEPA, modeled on the India-Singapore CECA. Based on the report of the JSG in October 2003, the two countries began negotiations on a CEPA in early 2005. Even though CEPA negotiations were completed, the agreement was not signed. 4. The Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) • To further broaden the scope of FTA and to strengthen the economic, trade, investment and technology cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, ETCA was proposed and negotiations were conducted. Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) covers both goods and services. Eleven rounds of negotiations have been completed so far. Reference: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India Website: www.eicindia.gov.in 40

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Sri Lankan Tea A Golden Industry S ri Lanka’s economy has benefited greatly from the tea business for more than a century. The nation’s economy and source of employment are both based on the tea business. Yet, it is claimed that the tea industry’s contribution is flawed when compared to data from a few years ago. Yet, if you go back over the years, you can observe a steady improvement. Also, Sri Lankan tea occupies a distinctive position in the world market. Sri Lanka must use a variety of tactics and measures to keep up its standing in the international economy. As a result, the issues the tea industry is facing can be resolved, and the development of the Sri Lankan tea sector can be accelerated while utilizing cutting-edge technologies. Due to the challenges the Sri Lankan tea sector is facing, low planting rates, low productivity, static or diminishing tea producing land, high production, and a severe labour shortage are all present. This is a result of changes in the production and exports of tea. Lastly, a few ideas are put out to enhance Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in the world of tea, the sector’s importance to the country’s economy, and other facets of the industry, such as geography and other characteristics, raw material supply and demand. 1. INTRODUCTION The Sri Lankan economy heavily depends on the tea sector. During 2018, the tea industry made up 1.2% of the GDP (Tea growth rates by economic activity for 2018 Q1 - 10.6%). In 2018, tea made up 15% of all exports. In Sri Lanka, the tea business employs more than a million people. Sri Lanka’s rise in foreign exchange is largely due to tea. In Sri Lanka, net foreign exchange revenues from tea account for more than 80% of the total. In 2008, Sri Lanka’s tea export revenue surpassed $1 billion USD for the first time in recorded history. Sri Lanka is pleased to have accomplished this feat first. Sri Lanka needed more than 20 years to double its tea business profits. The increase of Sri Lankan tea contributed to the expansion. Recent studies on the Sri Lankan tea business, however, indicate that the sector faces a number of difficulties, including low productivity, stagnating land, high production costs, a labour shortage, and declining death rates. 42

1.1 Sri Lankan Tea – The Growth of Commercial Production Timeline • 1880 to 1888 – Tea production increases dramatically, the area quickly exceeding the area of coffee plantations. Many famed British figures buy coffee plantations and convert to tea. The tea processing technology rapidly develops with the first tea rolling machine by John Walker and Co in 1880. • 1884 – The first public Colombo Auction is held in the premises of Messrs Somerville and Company Limited. • 1893 – 1 million tea packets are sold in the Chicago World’s fair. At the London Tea Auctions the tea nets a record price of £36.15 per pound. • 1894 – The Ceylon Tea Traders Association is formed. • 1896 – The Colombo Brokers Association is formed. • 1899 – The area of tea plantations in Ceylon is almost 400,000 acres. • 1916 – Thomas Amarasuriya becomes the first Ceylonese to be appointed as Chairman of the Planter’s Association. • 1925 – The Tea Research Institute is established to research on maximizing yields and on methods of production. • 1927 – The tea production of the country exceeds 100,000 metric tons • 1960s – The total tea plantation area exceeds 200,000 hectares, with a total yield over 200,000 metric tons • 1980s –Ceylon is the official tea supplier for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, 12th Commonwealth Games, and the Expo 88 • 1992-93 – All government owned plantations were privatized due to heavy losses • 2001 – Forbes and Walker launched the first online tea sales at the Colombo Auction • 2002 – The Tea Association of Sri Lanka was formed. 43

Becoming more productive and competitive are two of the biggest difficulties facing Sri Lanka’s tea sector. In the tea business, Sri Lanka’s rivals include Kenya, China, India, and Indonesia. There are no suitable sites for planting tea, therefore expanding the area covered by tea is challenging. Between the 1990s and the 2000s, the other traditional rival, Kenya, more than doubled its exports of tea (Lama 2001). Markets like Sri Lanka lose market share as Kenya increases its stake. Comparative to other nations, Sri Lanka’s tea production is declining. However, the top export of tea is from Sri Lanka. This is due to the high cost of Sri Lankan tea on the international market. As a result, there are many different techniques to make tea, which is the main source of foreign exchange for nation. The most popular varieties of tea are black, green, and white. 2. TEA CONTAINS Proteins, amino acids, tannins, caffeine (teinne), and Potassium, Calcium, Fluoride, Manganese, and Vitamins are trace minerals (niacin, vitamin B1 and B2) Sri Lanka produces the world-famous highgrown, medium-grown, and low-grown varieties of tea in three different elevational cultivation locations. Within the nations that produce tea, Sri Lanka is the only one that produces all varieties of tea, including CTC, Rotorvane, Orthodox, and Green tea. 3. TEA CULTIVATION Tea bushes need constant pruning to stop flowering and fruiting. This also makes it simpler for the tea pickers to gather the two uppermost leaves and the most recent bud. To maintain the harvest’s quality, most choices are still made by hand. 3.1 The orthodox production method This production method consists of five stages – Withering, Rolling, Fermentation, Drying and Sorting. 3.1.1 Withering Green leaves that have just been gathered are dried on harvested leaves in sealed plates. The tea leaves are removed of around 63 percent of their moisture during this procedure, making them pliable and soft for further processing. 3.1.2 Rolling Tea leaves are broken up into smaller pieces and the cell debris is extracted using mechanical pressure. After 30 minutes, the leaves that are still moist are sieved to remove the best leaves. When the coarse leaves are being rolled under high pressure for an additional 30 minutes, they are spread out right away for fermentation. Many times, this procedure is done. The quality of the tea leaf has a significant impact on the rolling time. By fracturing a high-quality leaf and a leaf that will roll for a long time, short-term rolling lowers its quality. The cell chap leaves during rolling and interacts with oxygen. Moreover, it promotes fermentation while releasing essential oils that enhance the scent. 3.1.3 Fermentation After rolling, the tea is spread out in layers that are roughly 10 cm high and left to continue fermenting for one to three hours in a cold, wet environment. The green leaf gradually begins to turn copper during this period. How far the fermentation of colour and regular scent has advanced will be disclosed to you by the person in charge of the procedure. 3.1.4 Drying Due to the disturbance of the oxidation process, the tea is then heated and dried using hot air at temperatures between 850 and 880 C0. The leaves’ residual moisture is also removed. Copper leaf that has dried out darkens. 3.1.5 Sorting The grade of the dried tea is next separated via sieving. The traditional technique of production yields teas in all leaf grades, including leaf, broken, fanning, and dust. Grades for leaves solely describe leaf size, not tea quality. 44

3.2 The Production of Green Tea Black tea and green tea both originate from the same plant. Yet as soon as the tea has wilted, heat treatment stops the fermentation process that produces green tea. 3.2.1 Withering This procedure is only used when it is required. Depending on the desired type of tea, withering is either not necessary or takes a very long time. 3.2.2 Steaming The plant’s own enzymes are eliminated during this process, keeping the leaf ’s green color rather than turning it black. 3.2.3 Rolling The leaf is rolled into artistic shapes following a tradition which dates back thousands of years. 3.2.4 Drying For this purpose, the leaves are dried in the sun’s natural heat or stacked in hot air dryers. 3.2.5 Sorting Green tea is available in the same familiar grades - leaf, broken, fanning and as black tea(depending on the production specification). It contains numerous tannins, minerals and vitamins. 3.3 The CTC production method Crushing, Tearing, and Curling is referred to as CTC. Typically, these teas are made for teabags. The equipment automatically trims the withered leaves to a standard size before injecting them into the CTC device. Metal rollers are used to tear, curl, and crush teas. Once more being added to the leaves is the gathered cell sap. Following the crushing, the leaves are fermented, dried, and sorted. 3.4 The LTP method Lawrie Tea Processor, the company that developed the relevant gadget, is referred to as LTP method. Teas are usually levelled with high-speed rotating blades that are virtually chopped into pieces before using the LDB machine in this manner. The typical fermentation rising and sorting process comes next. Tea is produced in country in a number of different ways. We can see from these that there are still numerous problems in the tea sector. • Compared to other tea growing countries high cost of production, including escalating cost of energy used in tea processing. • Competition of other new emerging producer countries, who could produce similar type of teas at a much lower cost. • Low field and factory productivity. • According to a recent survey carried out by the Planters Association of Ceylon, approximately 100 experienced planters in their prime age of 30-45 years leave planting annually. • Worker’s shortage, which is considered as a very serious threat. There are many problems in the tea industry. The problem of workers’ wages is mainly seen as the cause of labour shortage. By fixing this and introducing new technologies, there is a good chance of improvement. After that, when considering the status of the tea produced in the present-day Sri Lanka, This will be based on the appearance of the CDC, which will show growth in 2018 in all probability of global production. Orthodox tea production may be considered in short supply, considering the 2016 decline in Sri Lankan tea production. According to the government, lifting the ban on glyphosate use could lead to large plantations, especially for producers next year. However, ageing tea bushes and low productivity levels would be a downside. The United States is also the fastest growing market, especially for the immediate tea and ice tea segments. At the same time, 2018 imports from Sri Lanka to the US have shown significant growth. Other factors that is likely to impact Sri Lankan tea prices. • In the fourth quarter Colombo auction price have shown a significant appreciation, particularly in respect of Leafy orthodox teas. • The backdrop of deficits accumulated since 2015 importers of orthodox teas are likely to have lower inventory. • Tea would not be featured on the list of items attracting US import sanctions. • Another important factor that might influence tea prices is the variation in exchange rates. The Sri Lankan Rupee, which was under severe pressure at the commencement of 4th quarter 2018, stabilized somewhat towards mid-December. If this trend is reversed and the previous depreciation pattern that was seen a couple of months ago is a reality, this too would help Colombo Auction prices in rupee terms. 45

5. REFERENCES [1] S.C. THUSHARA, ‘Sri Lankan Tea Industry: Prospects and Challenges’, Proceedings of the Second Middle East Conference on Global Business, Economics, Finance and Banking (ME15Dubai Conference) ISBN: 978-1-941505- 26-7 Dubai-UAE, 22-24 May, 2015. [2] M.T. Ziyad and A.K.N. Zoysa, ‘ Handbook on Tea’, An overview of tea industry in Sri Lanka (accessed on 10th December 2019) [3] Daily Mirror - Tea Industry Overview: January to June 2019, Daily Mirror, www.dailymirror.lk (accessed on 30th December 2019) [4] Lakpura LLC, Ceylon Tea in Sri Lanka, Lanka. com (accessed on 30th December 2019) [5] All Answers Ltd, Analysis of the Sri Lankan Tea Industry, www.ukessays.com (accessed on 30th December 2019) [6] Forbes & Walker, Types of Tea, web.forbestea.com (accessed on 30th December 2019) [7] Wijeya Newspapers, Tea Industry’s performance in 2018 and prospects for 2019, www.ft.lk (accessed on 25th December 2019) [8] Sri Lanka GDP - Gross Domestic Product 2018, www.countryeconomy.com (accessed on 28th December 2019) [9]Demand-for-Sri-Lankan-tea-could-remaindepressed-brokers, www.lankabusinessonline. com (accessed on 28th December 2019) 4. THE WAY FORWARD The Sri Lankan tea business contributes significantly to the nation’s economy in terms of creating jobs and foreign exchange profits. Although while some recent statistics indicate that the tea sector’s contribution to foreign exchange earnings is constantly falling, the tea business still contributes significantly to these funds. The primary difficulties facing the Sri Lankan tea sector are recognized as productivity growth and maintaining competitiveness. The supply of raw materials does not seem to be a significant problem for the Sri Lankan tea industry. However, the Sri Lankan tea sector continues to face difficulties due to the labour deficit. This led to a wide range of issues. In comparison to Sri Lanka and competitors, India, Kenya, and Indonesia have greatly raised their tea levels. Most importantly, Kenya has made remarkable development. We must increase the number of tea plantations, hire more people, find solutions for the labour shortages, as well as introduce new technologies and equipment, in order to resolve the issues or challenges affecting the Sri Lankan tea business in our nation. Making money is feasible. Yet, it was challenging to narrow down the Ceylon Tea issue. Yet, the use of tea is dropping as a result of the current marketing of soft drinks, juices, coffee, and alcohol. The emergence of businesses that produce valueadded tea helped to increase appreciating efficiency in order to make up for all of this. Sri Lanka still needs to use marketing and printing to snag a large portion of the value chain. To boost its competitiveness, the Sri Lankan government has experimented with a number of tactics and measures, including a subsidy program for fertilizer, tree planting, new planting, and filling. Tea is available in all price ranges. It is possible to generate a sizable profit and maintain the tea by making and exporting an equivalent volume of high-quality tea. The immediate solution to this issue is to raise tree planting rates, apply fertilizers, and plant highyielding types because land productivity and labour productivity are both low in comparison to other main competitors in the global tea industry. 46

Prospects of Fisheries Sector: Best Options to be Introduction The seafood and aquaculture industry in Sri Lanka is a major industry with a unique culture that provides a livelihood to a significant portion of the country’s population. It contributes to the country’s GDP, food security, employment opportunities, and foreign exchange earnings. In 2019, the fisheries industry contributed 1.3% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in both current market prices and constant (2010) prices. The value of fish in this sector was approximately USD 1,102 million or Rs.196,989 million that year, which represents a growth rate of 9.9% at current prices. Sri Lankans obtain about 50% of their animal protein from fish, which is three times the global average, and the annual per capita fish consumption in 2019 was approximately 16.6 kg. With 1,620 km of coastline and exclusive rights to fish and conduct economic activities in a 517,000 sq km exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has numerous fishery harbours, anchorages, and landing sites for marine fishing. The primary product categories include Tuna, Swordfish, Prawns and Shrimps, Mud and Blue Swimming Crabs, Lobsters, Sea Cucumber, Barramundi fish, and other species. Fisheries exports have increased tremendously after the complete lifting of the ban imposed on fisheries exports from Sri Lanka. The foreign exchange earnings within the fishery industry account for 1.5% per cent of the entire export earnings. It has generated USD 299 million (Rs. 53,483 million) of foreign exchange from the growing export market during the year 2019. Figure 1: Total Fisheries Production in Sri Lanka from 1960-2020 (World Development Indicators, 2022) Fish production in Sri Lanka can fluctuate year by year due to various factors such as weather conditions, fishing regulations, and market demand. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s marine fisheries sector. The decline in fish catches by up to 20% and a drop in exports by 26% in 2020 has had a severe economic impact on the sector and the overall economy of the country. One of the challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s marine fisheries sector is that national catches are not sufficient to meet domestic demand. This has resulted in the need for imports to supplement the demand for fish in the country. In 2020, Sri Lanka imported $218 million worth of fish, highlighting the country’s dependence on fish imports to meet domestic demand. Production of Fisheries Payal Patel, MBA (Agribusiness Management) student, International Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India. D. Achini. M. De Silva, Professor, Department of Agribusiness Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. 47

• Contribution of marine and inland fisheries to total fish production from 2012-2022 Figure 2: Total Fish Production, including Total Inland and Total Marine from 2012-2022 (Ministry of Fisheries, 2022) The fisheries industry in Sri Lanka can be categorized into two main types: marine fisheries and freshwater fisheries & aquaculture. Marine fisheries are the dominant sector, accounting for 82.1% of the total fish production in the country, while freshwater fisheries and aquaculture contribute 17.9%. Coastal and offshore fisheries are the major components of marine fisheries, contributing 48.0% and 34.2% respectively to the total fish production in 2019. Since 1994, freshwater fisheries and aquaculture have grown significantly and have rapidly expanded in many regions of the country. Currently, freshwater capture fisheries play a crucial role in the overall fish production in Sri Lanka. Figure 3: Total Marine Fish Production, including Offshore, Coastal, and Lagoon, from 2012–2022 (Ministry of Fisheries, 2022) Figure 4: Total Inland Fish Production, including Capture, Aquaculture, and Shrimp Farms, from 2012–2022 (Ministry of Fisheries, 2022) 48

As of January 2023, the export value of fish and seafood from Sri Lanka was 23 million US dollars. Overall, Sri Lanka’s fish and seafood export industry has seen fluctuations over the years, impacted by various factors such as market access restrictions, pandemics, and economic conditions. However, the industry has shown resilience and has been able to recover from setbacks in the past. Export Performance of Total Fish and Fisheries Products during 2013-2023 Summary of Monthly Import and Export of Fish and Fishery Products from 2021-2023/ January Major Market of Edible Fish Products – 2022 Figure 5: Export Performance of Total Fish and Fisheries Products during 2013-2023 /January (Export Development Board, 2022) The information provided shows the trend of Sri Lanka’s fish and seafood exports over the years, with some notable fluctuations due to various reasons. According to Figure 2, Sri Lanka’s fish and fisheries product exports increased from 2013 to 2014, with the value of exports rising from 242.67 million US dollars in 2013 to 263.49 million US dollars in 2014. However, in January 2015, the European Union imposed a ban on Sri Lanka’s fish exports to European countries, which were a significant market for Sri Lanka’s fish and seafood exports. As a result, the export value fell sharply in 2015, reaching 179.24 million US dollars. The lifting of the ban on Sri Lankan fish exports to the European Union in 2016 and the restoration of the GSP+ concession in 2017 gave a significant boost to the fish and seafood export industry in post-war Sri Lanka. The export value in 2016 was 182.24 million US dollars, which increased substantially in 2017 and 2018 to reach 255.54 and 281.89 million US dollars, respectively. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s fish and seafood export performance, with a decline in 2020, reaching 202.84 US million dollars from 278.69 US million dollars in 2019. However, the industry seems to have revived in 2021, with the export value reaching 295.04 US million dollars, and a slight decline was observed in 2022, with the export value reaching 290.75 US million dollars. Figure 4: Export volume of fish and fishery products from 2021-2023/ January (Ministry of Fisheries, 2022) Figure 5: Import volume of fish and fishery products from 2021-2023/ January (Ministry of Fisheries, 2022) Figure 6: Major Market of Edible Fish Products – 2022 (Export Development Board, 2022) 49

The information provided shows the top markets for the global edible fish market in 2022, with France being the leading market with a contribution of 29.95 million US dollars. The United States and Germany were the second and third largest markets, respectively, with contributions of 23.69 and 23.57 million US dollars. Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Canada, and China were also significant markets, with contributions of 23.19, 19.78, 19.32, 18.26, 17.15, 12.78, and 11.89 million US dollars, respectively. These figures suggest that there is a strong global demand for edible fish, with a diverse range of countries contributing to the market. The market is competitive, with several countries vying for a significant market share. It is also worth noting that the market shares of different countries may fluctuate over time, depending on various factors such as changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, and global trade policies. Species demanded in key markets • Finfish Exports from Sri Lanka The Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka reports that the primary finfish varieties exported by seafood suppliers from Sri Lanka are Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacore) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). These fish are caught using sustainable and traditional methods such as hand-line, pole-line, or long-line fishing, and are then gutted, gilled, and chilled at sea to ensure their freshness and quality for export. Although long-line fishing can have negative impacts on non-target species and the marine environment, proper regulation and monitoring can make it a sustainable and responsible fishing method. Sri Lanka’s suppliers appear to be taking steps to ensure the quality and sustainability of their fishing practices. Fresh tuna is considered a delicacy and is highly sought after by consumers worldwide. Sri Lanka’s ability to provide high-quality fresh tuna to the international market is noteworthy. • Yellowfin Tuna from Sri Lanka Yellowfin tuna, also known locally as Kelavalla, is a highly popular fish in Sri Lanka and is one of the larger tuna species found in the Indian Ocean. It is in high demand for both domestic consumption and export, with key markets for Sri Lankan yellowfin tuna including the United States, France, Israel, the Netherlands, and Canada. In addition to its unique flavour, yellowfin tuna is also highly nutritious, making it a popular seafood choice in Sri Lanka. Its popularity may be attributed to its high protein content and the fact that it is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and other essential nutrients. • Bigeye Tuna from Sri Lanka The fresh and frozen Bigeye tuna is sold to foodservice operators as loins and steaks. France, Viet Nam, China, Thailand, Italy and the United States are the key export markets for Bigeye tuna. The Bigeye tuna is highly popular in major restaurants worldwide. They are a good source of phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 Sri Lankan tuna products are exported mainly fresh in open or vacuum packs. Sri Lanka exports a wide range of finfish, including skipjack tuna, billfish, dolphin fish, Spanish mackerel, trevally, barracuda, groupers, snappers, white mullet, parrotfish, and ribbonfish. These fish are exported in various forms such as whole fish, loins (billfish only), steaks, fillets, alive (grouper only), fresh (in open or vacuum packs), frozen, or canned. • Lobster Exports from Sri Lanka The five species of lobster that are commonly found in Sri Lanka are the Ornate Spiny lobster or the Tiger lobster (Panulirus ornatus), the Painted Spiny lobster (Panulirus versicolor), the Longlegged Spiny lobster (Panulirus longipes), the Scalloped Spiny Lobster (Panulirus homarus), and Pronghorn Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus). The burgeoning demand for lobsters has, however, raised grave concerns over the depleting stocks. Lobsters are exported to countries such as Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, Maldives and Singapore. Crab Exports from Sri Lanka • Mud Crab / Sri Lankan Lagoon Crab The milky and delicious taste of the Sri Lankan Mud crab has earned it a global reputation; hence, it enjoys a high demand in the international markets. Sri Lanka lagoon crabs are also unique due to their sheer size. Mud crabs elsewhere in the world don’t grow as large. So, Sri Lanka makes an ideal sourcing hub for the largest and tastiest mud crabs in the world. 50