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And also, bridging the gap between universities and industry and facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing. This can lead to joint research projects, internships for students, and the development of new products and services. And this encourage students towards entrepreneurship. This will lead to the creation of job opportunities in the future and can also stimulate economic growth. And also UBL helps to create job opportunities for students and graduates by connecting them with potential employers within the industry. Furthermore, UBL cells help universities generate revenue through research and development projects, consulting services, and licensing agreements with businesses. The University Business Linkage Cell of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka The University Business Linkage Cell of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka was established in May 2018 in accordance with the University Grants Commission Circular No. 10/2016. The primary goal of this initiative is to convert the university’s innovative ideas into viable commercial products. The UBLC plays a vital role in the technology transfer process by converting these ideas into intellectual property through patents and other forms of IP. With the assistance of industry partners, the UBLC seeks to commercialize these ideas, ultimately supporting Sri Lanka’s economic development. The University Business Linkage Cell at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka has achieved a significant milestone in 2021 with its efforts to expose university innovations to external business stakeholders to build a network in an increasingly interconnected business world. In furthering the UBLC’s efforts to connect university researchers with industry partners, they have signed a licensing agreement with Food & Nature Ltd. (FADNA) to commercialize an herbal low glycaemic tea formulation. This marks an important step in the commercialization of university research and innovation, and demonstrates the UBLC’s commitment to facilitating collaboration between academia and industry. UBLC Events MoU with Cargills Ceylon PLC The University Business Linkage Cell of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Department of Agribusiness Management from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cargills Ceylon PLC to bring to market two inventions called “Cinnamon Tea Pod” and “A Healthy Cinnamon Latte”. These two inventions were created by a group called AHEAD Grant RIC STEM HEMS 16 and the signing ceremony took place on November 17th, 2020 at Sabaragamuwa University in Sri Lanka. MoU with Spice Lab by Ceylon Pvt. Ltd The University Business Linkage Cell of Sabaragamuwa University in Sri Lanka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Spice Lab by Ceylon Pvt. Ltd to market and sell an invention called “A Herbal Soup Mix with Anti-Diabetic Activity”. This invention was created by a research team from AHEAD Grant RIC STEM HEMS 18, which is a group affiliated with the Faculty of Applied Sciences. You can get more information about UBLC events conducted by our university through the UBLC web page. 101

Products and Innovations • FADNA Tea (Food & Nature (Pvt) Ltd) in collaboration with University of Colombo introduced four new products to the market on the August 2022. The QofL brand was used to market all the newly developed products, which aimed to enhance the quality of life incorporating nature’s goodness with modern science to serve new trends for beauty and wellness. Sanity, with an inherent mesmerizing fragrance, developed based on the advanced aroma therapy accepted worldwide, inspires hair follicles in a biologically safer and healthier manner addressing many aspects related to the process of hair-growing. Ortho-Shield, a well-refined conglomerate of natural ingredients with higher levels of pain-relieving potentials, enhances the absorption properties of active herbal ingredients stimulating and smoothening painful joints and muscles with faster and long-lasting relief effects. Vernolac, is a nontoxic herbal formulation developed as a nutraceutical that enhances the quality of life of cancer patients. This trailblazing nutraceutical capsule contains anti-cancer properties that help control and eliminate cancer stem cells. Bio-Shape also activates metabolic enzymes to enhance the fat-burning process enabling weight wellness in an effective, non-harmful, and 100% natural manner. Arresting the basics of natural metabolism and applying nature’s miraculous reactionary processes involving biologically active compounds that inhibit the excessive production of fat-forming enzymes and suppress fat formation through all-natural herbal ingredients identified and processed using advanced molecular engineering technology. 102

• The University Business Linkage Cell (UBL) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) achieved a significant breakthrough in research commercialization by transferring its inaugural research-based invention to industry through an exclusive license agreement, marking a significant milestone in the university’s history. The medicine met and exceeded all drug safety and efficacy standards. Launching this medicine in an exclusive partnership with Beam Hela Osu Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, a leading Ayurvedic and Herbal medicine manufacturing and distribution company in Sri Lanka. Contribution to the national economy and GDP The University Business Linkage Cell (UBL) has made a substantial contribution to the national economy and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by fostering collaborations between academia and industry, resulting in the commercialization of innovative products and services. Through these collaborations, UBL facilitates the transfer knowledge and technology from universities to industry. As a result of this, new products, processes and services are developed that meet market needs. These innovations can create new jobs, stimulate economic growth and increase productivity, which has a positive impact on the country’s GDP. Moreover, the successful commercialization of research-based inventions and technologies by UBL can create new revenue streams and increase the competitiveness of local businesses, contributing to the growth of the national economy. Overall, the activities of UBL can have a significant multiplier effect on the economy, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders. Ultimately, UBL benefits the society by promoting scientific discoveries and innovations that can transform people’s lives, and generate economic growth and development for the local community. 103

• What is Clydeside distillery? Clydeside Distillery; built on the historic Queens Dock facing the river Clyde, was established in 2017. They had started their operations in 2018 and is now a famous destination for Scottish Whiskey and for the full package of Whiskey experience they deliver. This relatively younger whiskey plant stores 4 ½ years of ripened Whiskey. Despite the relatively immature Whiskey, the distillery has been attracting significant earnings through the diversification and differentiation of their Scottish Whiskey and the Whiskey tasting- packaged experience. • What is the specialty in Clydeside? Scotland being a Whiskey nation, has 05 whiskey producing regions; the Highlands, the Lowlands, and Speyside, Islay and the Campbeltown. The fascinating point in Scotch Whiskey is that for a spirit which is brewed with the same three ingredients; Barley, water and yeast under the similar processes, there is so much diversity in flavour notes. Hence, the Whiskey from each region tends to have their own signature style and flavour notes. Clydeside distillery being a lowland located plant, delivers whiskey which is lighter bodied, delicate and with soft grassy aroma. Hence the whiskey is relatively easy to ingest. Ms. A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara, Professor D.A.M. De Silva Department of Agribusiness Magement Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Lessons From Clydeside Distillery, Glasgow to Improve Sri Lankan Artisanal Toddy Tourism 104

• The Clydeside Whiskey; specialties Clydeside produces single malt Whiskey where water for the plant is sourced from an area 40 miles away (Loche Katrine) which is very clean and ready to drink as it is. Malt is produced from Barley grown in southern Scotland (100 farms) so that Whiskey will bear the unique details from the origin. Also, as a strategy to cut down the cost, milled grist is produced out of the distillery in a separate location and it is transported to the Clydeside distillery for mashing, fermentation and distillation, repining and bottling stages. As the rule goes, the ripening of Whiskey should happen for at least 03 years, in oak casks/barrels, the distillery matures whiskey in Oak casks to develop the aroma and the flavor. Clydeside uses first fill Sherry casks imported from Spain and first fill Bourbon casks imported from USA to finely enhance the maturation process. 105

• What is the Whiskey experience delivered at Clydeside distillery? Other than being a Whiskey producer, the Clydeside distillery strives to provide a full package of whiskey tasting experience. This includes the full range of activities such as • The Clydeside tour (£17.50PP / 1H) Discover the Dockside Story and how they use ageold techniques to manufacture their booze. Let the guests experience the evolution of the Clydeside spirit by allowing them to taste two whiskies that have each been aged in first-fill Bourbon casks and firs t-fill Sherry barrels before finishing with their new creation. • Chocolate & Whisky tour (£30PP / 1H 20 MINS) The exquisite chocolate tasting experience will tantalize guests’ senses. They can enjoy a sampling of 5 wee drams of single malt whiskey, each perfectly paired with delicious handmade chocolates, after the dockside story and distillery tour. 106

• Distillery manager tour (£120PP / 2H) An exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour, hosted by Distillery Manager, Alistair McDonald. Features Alistair’s personal selection of premium single malt whiskies for tasting and gifts. • Specialist Whiskey shop The visitors can discover range of Clydeside whiskey, branded products and other beautiful malts from all over Scotland. The visitors can enjoy ramps and bottles from other whiskey distilleries too. The team will help to find the right whiskey for the visitors. • Shop and café – “label your own” The label your own gives the visitors a chance to hand-fill their own bottle and write a bespoke label for an exclusive Clydeside single malt whiskey. The whiskey inside the bottle is exclusive to Clydeside distillery shop. • The Clydeside café Visitors can unwind with wonderful whiskey flights in the Clydeside café that feature some of the best single malts, along with Scottish cheese and oat cakes. Additionally, visitors can indulge in an exclusive whiskey glazed doughnut baked by people, not machines. • Clydeside gifts At the end of the tour the visitors will receive a nice glass of Whiskey to enjoy single malt Whiskey you have purchased at the Clydeside Café. 107

• Adapting the lessons to Sri-Lankan artisanal toddy; the packaged experience Sri Lanka being a listed tourism destination in world, has been thriving in earning foreign earning through the natural beauty and the historical sites. But the behavior of tourists is always on the change and hence the country needs to explore new opportunities and dimensions to accentuate the tourism. Toddy which is brewed with the fermentation of the sap of Caryota Urens palm, is an artisanal industry that has been on the practice since the ancestral era in SriLanka. There is an identified product positioning for toddy, if it is to be established as a tourism experience, which is being native plant to South Asia and South East Asia. But Sri Lanka is the only recorded country to produce large number of products from the palm; toddy, treacle and juggery from the sap and flour from the trunk. There is a serious level of skill needed for the extraction of the sap from the flower of the Caryota Urens palm following the entire production process of the toddy. As Clydeside distillery has capitalized on the avenues of diversifying their Whiskey experience, the first Sri-Lankan commercial scale toddy manufacturer; Raga Ceylon has the possibility of bringing the toddy to a whole new experience. Being a low alcoholic beverage, it could be enjoyed without gender bias and tourists will receive a new experience. Raga Ceylon can arrange toddy tours starting from the collection of sap from their contact farmers at the mountainous regions of Adam’s peak up until the canning and bottling at the factory premises in Kuruwita. Packages such as toddy tours, toddy tasting, treacle and juggery tasting, “make breakfast your syrup with us” activities can be introduced for the tourists to earn more by diversifying the business to a whole new sector. This will enhance the popularity of their existing caned toddy product range and the other products while paving the path to earn more through the delivery of experience; which tourists love to enjoy. Special courtesy: Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga and the BRITAE team from the University of Huddersfield for providing the opportunity to visit the Clydeside Distillery Glasgow and the Agri Deshiya Pvt. Ltd., Kuruwita for arranging the guided factory tour of Raga Ceylon. 108

How to Overcome Food Insecurity Axre there enough foods to go around? Can we reach food? Can it be afforded to everyone at a fair price? Is there quality affordable food? Can we get a balanced diet on those foods? Is it safe for our health? There is high food security if the answer is ‘yes’ to all those questions. But the problem is that the answer to most questions is ‘No’. The world facing the problem of food security, especially developing countries. Food is a basic human need that is required for the survival of all living beings on the planet. However, when it comes to food and nutrition, it is estimated that nearly one billion people in today’s world are undernourished. (Kalindu Rathnayaka, 2021) Considering the world context, the food crisis began to worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic era. With the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the food crisis rising-up because Russia and Ukraine are two agricultural production powerhouses. The situation in Sri Lanka is worsening day by day with the economic crisis. Sri Lanka mainly focused on the increment of rice production and fulfilling the rice requirement since independence until recent times. All agricultural production suddenly dropped down with the government’s decision to completely ban the import of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Today, the ban has been lifted, but it was an upside-down point for agriculture. This has affected not merely the present production, future production, and food availability very badly. As a result, the lack of essential agricultural commodities, and prices skyrocketing are common these days. With these circumstances, food insecurity is high day by day in Sri Lanka. The estate sector has the worst food security status, with more than half of households experiencing food insecurity. These households routinely outperform urban and rural communities on all indicators of food insecurity and coping methods. While urban households are draining their savings to get by, for the time being, estate populations are already turning to credit to buy food and other basics. (WFP, 2022 July) G.H.K Wanigasinghe Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 109

However, we must face this challenge to get out of this crisis tunnel of the country. How can we build food security? • Increasing agricultural productivity: Sri Lanka has fertile land and a favorable climate, but there is room for improvement in terms of agricultural practices. The government can invest in agricultural research, extension services, and infrastructure to help farmers increase yields and improve the quality of their crops. Universities and research centers must contribute to improving research services on agricultural production. • Diversifying food production: Sri Lanka has traditionally relied heavily on rice production, but climate change and other factors have made this approach less sustainable. Encouraging the cultivation of other crops like vegetables, fruits, and pulses can increase dietary diversity and help reduce food insecurity. • Improving food distribution and storage: In many cases, food insecurity is not due to a lack of production but rather to issues with distribution and storage. The government can invest in better transportation and storage infrastructure to help get food to the people who need it. • Enhancing social safety nets: Programs like food subsidies, school meal programs, and cash transfers can help vulnerable populations access food even during times of crisis. • Addressing poverty: Poverty is one of the root causes of food insecurity, and addressing poverty can have a long-term impact on reducing food insecurity. The government can invest in education, job training, and other programs to help lift people out of poverty. • Promoting sustainable food systems: Promoting sustainable food systems can reduce food waste and improve the resilience of food production systems. This includes promoting agroecology, reducing food waste, and adopting sustainable farming practices. • Enhancing food distribution systems: Improving food distribution networks, such as storage facilities, transportation, and market access, can reduce food waste, lower food prices, and increase the availability of food. Additionally, initiatives to connect small farmers with markets can help them receive fair prices for their produce and improve their income. • Increasing access to credit: Small farmers and rural households often lack access to credit, which can limit their ability to invest in agriculture and improve their livelihoods. By providing accessible and affordable credit facilities, the government and financial Institutions can help farmers expand their businesses and increase their productivity. • Encouraging community-based initiatives: Community-based initiatives, such as community gardens and food banks, can help vulnerable communities access nutritious food. These initiatives can be supported by government and non-governmental organizations, and can also foster social cohesion and empower communities. • Promoting nutrition education: Education on the importance of a nutritious diet and healthy eating habits can promote better nutrition and health outcomes, particularly for children and women. By incorporating nutrition education into school curriculums and community programs, Sri Lanka can increase awareness and knowledge of proper nutrition and food choices. 110

Generally, Sri Lanka has favorable climate conditions for most of the crops. However, climate change is unavoidable. Therefore, climate-resilient mechanisms must be there. Sri Lanka lacks value additions of food products comparing other countries. Valueadded food products are a good solution to reduce the import of food products as well as it is increasing the food availability in off-seasons. Other than that, increasing post-harvest losses are a major issue in Sri Lanka. Because of poor agricultural practices and handling practices in every stage of the supply chain and value chain. This may lead to increasing price hiking and reducing the quality of agricultural produce. It takes several hours to transport agricultural produce from farmgate to dedicated economic centers and marketplaces. So, improving storage facilities is a crucial step to reducing postharvest losses and preventing food shortages. Sri Lanka spends a lot of money to import seeds and agrochemicals. There are still many traditional seed varieties and agricultural practices that can be applied and improved. Researchers, government institutions, universities, and the private sector must pay attention to that sector. This will help to reserve dollars in Sri Lanka and it can be used for importing essential agricultural commodities and foods. Sustainable farming practices such as applying integrating pest management and integrating livestock & crops and reducing food waste by producing byproducts, compost, and creating energy will help to promote sustainable food systems. A lot of farmers struggle with financial difficulties with the economic crisis. It affects small-scale businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs. Introducing new credit approaches to farmers and food producers can take off the barriers and improve accessibility, and affordability for credit facilities. Crop diversification, conservation agriculture, efficient use of water, integrated farming systems, proper storage and post-harvest management, climate-smart agriculture, proper packing mechanisms, and access to market information and credit; all those aspects have an indirect effect on increasing the food security of the country. Because improving agriculture is the key feature to raising food security. 111

The Agri-Food Stall is an innovative physical platform developed by the Department of Agribusiness Management to market the new product developments of students, faculty farm produces, and farmers’ products. This stall was established in a container cabin which is fully air-conditioned and equipped with a refrigerator, a freezer, a product display cabinet, an oven, and a sink for washing purposes. This food stall has been created to fulfill the following objectives. • To create a platform for students to market the new product developments they are developing to satisfy a requirement of the venture creation subject offered by the Department of Agribusiness Management • To create a platform to market the innovative products developed by the undergraduates available to the university staff and the general public • To create a platform to market the farmer products to the university staff and the general public • To create a platform to market the fresh farm produces of the faculty farm There, the products of the students are marketed under the common brand name of “AB”, which is an abbreviation for Agribusiness. The farmers’ products were labeled as ‘Belihuloya farmers’ to distinguish the products from the students’ made products and to support them to reach their products to the customers. The financial support was given by the AHEAD project which is funded by the World Bank. Agri-food Stall 112

Understanding Rice Market in Sri Lanka Introduction Rice is the most important crop in Sri Lanka since it involves the majority of farmers on the one hand and all citizens are rice consumers on the other, so the rice sector receives top attention from the government. Also, the rice industry is vital for food security and the economic development of Sri Lanka as its economy relies on the agriculture sector. Paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka dates back to the illustrious period between 161 B.C. to 1071 A.D (Senanayake, 2022). The favourable climate produced a thriving crop, inspiring many Sri Lankans to adopt paddy cultivation as their way of life. As a result, it became central to Sri Lankan culture, weaving together the nation’s society, culture, and religious beliefs in a stunning redesign. Having two seasons for the cultivation of the paddy also boost the attraction of the farmers toward paddy cultivation. Two growing seasons are Maha and Yala, which coincide with the two monsoons. Maha Season runs from September through March of the following year, during the “North-east monsoon.” The Yala season runs from May to the end of August (Department of Census and Statistics, 2023). The specific season is established when the crop is planted and harvested during the aforementioned times. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors, including seasonal water shortages, persistently unstable ground conditions, etc., the entire area set aside for paddy cultivation is not being cultivated. 113

Figure 1: Area harvested(ha) and production(tonne) of paddy during 1970-2020 in Sri Lanka (FAOSTAT,2023) As per Figure 1, it is clearly shown that the production is increasing at a higher rate, with the area for cultivation increasing year by year. So that productivity is increasing in Sri Lanka. In 2017 production fell like never before because of the severe drought in the country (Global Agricultural Information Network, 2019). But it is clear that Sri Lanka is improving the efficiency of the production of rice year by year. The productivity of the paddy in Sri Lanka is 4795 kg/ha in 2020 which is higher than naboughring countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. (FAOSTAT, 2020) There are four main common rice varieties in Sri Lankan agricultural markets namely; Samba, Nadu, Raw White and Raw Red. Rice produced from shortgrain paddy is called Samba and long-grain paddy is called nadu rice. Around 73 per cent of the area was under the cultivation of Nadu rice. Rice is the principal food commodity in Sri Lanka with a per capita consumption of around 107 kg per year (Global Agricultural Information Network, 2022). Out of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka, only 6 districts, namely Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Batticaloa, Kurunegala and Hambantota have produced paddy with an average of 100 thousand Metric Tones per year over the last twenty-five years. These six districts are responsible for more than 50 percent of the total annual domestic paddy production (Jayasinghe-Mudalige, 2006). Rice production and area Sri Lanka has higher paddy production and market fluctuations because of the presence of unstable climate conditions, changing government policies, and many other factors. 114

Price of rice monthly and annually Figure 2: Annual average retail price (LKR/kg) of rice in Sri Lanka Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, 2023 Figure 3: Monthly average retail price (LKR/kg) of rice in Sri Lanka Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, 2023 Rice is a staple food and the most consumed commodity in the country therefore economics of rice has more influence on people as well as the whole economy. Price of rice increases year by year with inflation (figure 2). However, the monthly average price has a relation to the season of harvesting (figure 3). The figure depicts that rice prices do not increase gradually but that there is a sudden change in them. In February and March, the prices are lower because of the harvesting season in Maha and December has the highest price because of the lower availability of rice during this period. Regional markets are not very volatile due to shortages in supply because the need can be fulfilled by other markets. The distance between two regional markets has a positive relationship with the spatial price difference, i.e. the price difference is higher as the distance increases (Jayasinghe-Mudalige, 2006). Rice marketing in Sri Lanka Paddy marketing board (PMB) was established in Sri Lanka in 1972. But due to the introduction of the open market system in the country in 1977, market liberalisation happened and afterward, marketing is mainly influenced by private players (Paddy Marketing Board, 2023). PMB failed in their work due to many reasons like labour shortage in the year 2000 and liberalisation in 1978. The Paddy marketing board mainly works with the storage and distribution of paddy; there is not any structure for the marketing of rice. Rice marketing is mainly dominated by the private sector. Only 6-8% of the paddy is bought by the government, while 10% is bought by smalland medium-sized millers and cooperatives. The remaining majority of paddy is purchased by three to four large-scale millers which shows the oligopolistic market (Wijesooriya W. & Kuruppu I., 2022). So the price is somewhat controlled by the millers, the Government was also trying to control the price by introducing a maximum retail price but it did not succeed. 115

Generally, Farmers do not store paddy because of storage concerns. So that they dry paddy and sell it to the local collectors at the village level. Millars store paddy for some months. A major market for imported rice is the Pettah market because mainly imported rice is traded from there and other wholesale and retail Markets are Gampha, Maradagamulla, Ampara etc. Paddy milling in Sri Lanka Paddy purchasing and rice processing are dominated by private millers. Polonnaruwa is the largest paddy processing area in Sri Lanka, having 105 paddy mills. There are 10 mills under the category of the largest group which have a milling capacity minimum of 75 tonnes per day. They cover a total of 70 percent of the paddy processing. Small and medium millers have a capacity of 40 and 10 tonnes per day for rice milling. Sometimes They directly sell their paddy to large players because of less capacity for processing (Wijesooriya W. & Kuruppu I., 2022). The Rice industry is mainly dominated by private players so there is a chance to store rice in large millers and release of a large stock of rice for buying new paddy at lower prices. There are no laws or policies in the country which restrict the storage of the commodities. Impact of the crisis on the rice market Although Sri Lanka is being self-sufficient in rice for many years, it purchased US$2.22 crore. of rice from overseas markets in 2021, as the fertiliser shortfall severely hampered production. Also, the import of rice reached US$27 crore in 2022 (Sri Lanka customs, 2022). Import is required to prevent food shortage in the country. Suggestions for enhancement of the rice market in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka needs to establish a proper marketing system for rice. After having a huge production and selfsufficiency in rice production, the price is fluctuating more than normal. There is a need for proper value chain control by the government. Farmers can get more benefits by selling dry paddy rather than wet paddy because it seems like a value addition at the farm level and it also reduces pest attacks. The market has huge potential for pushing up smallscale processors and cooperatives by making strong policies. It requires strong policies and infrastructure to compete with the large-scale rice millers. India has a law that any person or firm can not store essential commodities. So that price can not be controlled by bulk storage. But In Sri Lanka, there are not any laws or policies for controlling unnecessary bulk storage of essential commodities like Rice. It needs policies regarding storage and distribution in the whole country. It is necessary to maintain staple food grain storage for future adverse conditions in the country, which can control the shortage of staple food, where the paddy marketing board has not succeeded. India has a corporation (Food corporation of India) that controls the whole system of buying, storing, maintaining and distributing such commodities. This system can also manage the demand and supply of commodities for sustainable price regulation. 116

Montu Bhatiya, MBA (Agribusiness Management) student, International Agribusiness Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University, India Nalaka Weerasinghe Senior Scientist, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI), Sri Lanka Virajith Kuruppu Lecturer, Department of Agribusiness Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. S H P Malkanthi Professor, Department of Agribusiness Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka References Department of Census and Statistics, Agriculture. http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Agriculture/ StaticalInformation/rubpaddy FAOSTAT, (2023), Crops and livestock products. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Global Agricultural Information Network, (2019), Rice Rebounds - Grain and Feed Annual. https:// agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/MarketReport/ Reports/Rice_Rebounds_Grain_and_Feed_ Annual_2019_Colombo_Sri_Lanka_9-16-2019. pdf Global Agricultural Information Network, (2022), Grain and Feed Annual – 2022. https:// apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/ ownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Grain%20 and%20Feed%20Annual_New%20Delhi_Sri%20 Lanka_CE2022-0004.pdf Senanayake, N (2022) RICE PRODUCTION UNDER THE ORGANIC FERTILIZER USE POLICY IN SRI LANKA. Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 25 (2): 2022. Talking Economics, (2021), Rising Price of Rice in Sri Lanka: The Roots and Remedies. https://www.ips. lk/talkingeconomics/2021/10/07/rising-price-ofrice-in-sri-lanka-the-roots-and-remedies/ Jayasinghe-Mudalige, (2006), An Economic Analysis on Spatial Integration of Regional Rice Markets in Sri Lanka. Paddy Marketing Board. https://www. pmb.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_ tent&view=article&id=73&Itemid=228&lang=en Reuters.com, (2022), Sri Lanka faces looming food crisis with stunted rice crop. https://www.reuters. com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-faces-loomingfood-crisis-with-stunted-rice-crop-2022-08-16/ Wijesooriya W. & Kuruppu I., (2022), Milling Economics & Concentration of Market Power in Major Rice Milling Zone Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Statistical Review, 1(1). Hector Kobbebkduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, (2023). 117

Food with Style “Agrora” Food Fashion Show The students of the Department of Agribusiness Management proudly organized “AGRORA” food fashion show in conjunction with the Agribusiness day which was held on 27th of May 2023. The food fashion show was showcased in very attractive and eye catching way under the theme of “Food Wastage and Sustainability”. The theme of the fashion show focused on describing products, processes, activities, and aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral fashion industry, built on equality, social justice, animal welfare, and ecological integrity. Sustainable fashion concerns more than addressing fashion textiles or products. Therefore, the more color was added to the show by the stunning collection of dressers designed with the use of wastage of fruits and vegetables, packaging materials, paper plates, cups, cartons, tins, plastic cups, bottles, and natural colors extracted from fruits and vegetables ,etc. 17 models and 29 designers got participated in the fashion show. The fashion show is organized in a manner of a competition and at the end, the competence is awarded under the following categories. o Best costume designers o Best model o Nature friendly design 118

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Sustainable agribusinesses in Sri Lanka: targeted people, planet and profit concept: Success Stories Agribusiness is the business sector related to farming and farming-related commercial activities. This encompasses all the stages of the agri-food value chain and the supply chain. Sri Lanka has been an agricultural country as far as its recorded history spans. Albeit being an agricultural country, the Gross Domestic Production’s contribution from the agriculture sector is decelerating in the recent past. This adverse retardation has been accentuated by COVID-19 and the economic recession the country is experiencing now. Though Sri Lanka owns a significant number of agricultural produce, there has always been a huge gap between the upstream cultivation/rearing practices and value addition for the product. As a result, the country has been exporting large quantities of raw produce with zero or minimum level of value addition. Therefore, the country has continuously been losing the created value and failed in capturing the created value in monetary terms for the agri-food products. Hence, there is an urgent need for search avenues and ground-level value creation for agri-food products in Sri Lanka. Along with value creation, people and planet sustainability should also be taken into consideration. Sustainable businesses conserve the environment and at the same time, it indirectly serves as a marketing tool in communicating the product with the target audience. Considering the resources, capacity, and nature of the business, agribusiness ventures can start with small-scale targeting a very specific market segment so that they can create targeted value for the niche. This enables small businesses to withstand the competition from giant players in the industry. Forest Hill Teas The Forest-hill-teas of Kuruwita, Erathna, Sri Lanka is such an example of achieving success with smallscale production while ensuring the growth of all three aspects; people, planet, and profit. Wild tea from Warnagala, a deserted estate in the Sri Pada Mountain range, is what Forest Hill is known for. During the colonial era, Scottish planters planted the tea, and over the following 130 years, it had developed from ordinary tea bushes into 900 trees that are 40 to 50 feet tall and blend in with the surrounding forest. Skilled tea pluckers from Forest Hill, scale these trees to hand-pick the delicate two leaves and a bud at the top. The minerals absorbed by the deep taproots and layers of rich forest soil give this rare wild tea its distinctive flavor. Small batches of meticulous hand processing are used to retain the quality. Additionally, Forest Hill provides a collection of handcrafted teas from nearby little tea gardens. People, planet and profit sustainability at forest hill teas The forest hill teas operate with the intention of directly benefiting the local tropical rainforest environment in which the wild tea is located. This is because they pluck wild-grown teas from the forests of Adam’s Peak. No external influences are made on the tea trees. They are allowed to grow fertilizing from the decaying fauna and flora of the tropical rainforest habitat. Also, the pluckers ensure that harvest is not over-exploited from the tea trees making it further A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara, A.S. Hettige and Prof. D.A.M. De Silva Department of Agribusiness Management Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 120

environmentally sustainable and ecosystem friendly. No traces are left on the forest floor. Whenever the tea is sourced from small-scale tea holders, the company makes sure that the farmers only use environmentally friendly compost developed with organic materials. Even the packaging material of the finished tea bags is designed to promote environmental sustainability. They are either made from recycled material or made from biodegradable renewable sources. Also, all the products sold at forest hill teas are vegan or of plant origin. Even the factory premises of forest hill tea strictly control the use of single-use polythene bags, plastics, and any form of environmentally harmful unsustainable materials. People approach covers the customers, consumers, and employees of Forest hill tea. Forest hill tea guarantees the use of organic origin content in producing their tea. The transparency of the pricing is also another major factor that keeps foreign customers attracted to the business. Further going extreme, they disclose all the ingredients/ materials they use in their tea. As for the workers, they operate with the concept of capturing value and delivering value to the locality. Thus, the workers at forest hill tea are all locals living near the factory premises. They consider them as their artisans not as workers. They include women where 40-60% of technical specialists are women and 80% of our workers are women. Even the packing materials are sewn by a local tailor shop owned by a woman near the factory. The workers are provided with a safe working environment providing them with their own working space, work plan, and resource allocation. Forest Hill Tea strives to create value for a special target market segment which is the artisanal teafavoring community. For that, the company has developed many value-added single tea origins. Their product portfolio includes the following. • Black tea • Silver tips • Golden tips • Green tea • World’s first natural tea bag • Hand-crafted wild spicy blends • Hand-crafted wild tea rods • Tippy Orange tea 121

In addition to the product range of tea, they involve in tea tourism as well. Both local and foreign tourists can book a tour of their tea-making in advance and the company arranges a full tour into the tea plucking grounds, and into the tea processing and finally, they let you brew your own cup of tea from the tea plucked by you! Artisanal teas thus created are exported mainly to European countries including the UK, and Spain. Sri Lanka being a tea nation, forest hill tea tries to create its own stance in the market amidst many other largescale tea producers through the handmade tea and sustainability concept. As discovered through the field visit and the interview of Mr. Dissanayake the proprietor of forest hill tea, their going small-targeting sustainability concept has been a win-win situation for the owner, the employees, the sensitive bio-diversified environment, and the consumers. 122

Enhancing Biodiversity, Engaging Indigenous Knowledge, and Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Plant Breeding Plant breeding plays an essential role in ensuring global food security and increasing agricultural productivity. However, biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage are also causing social and ethical problems. This article evaluates these implications and discusses the importance of balancing scientific progress and the preservation of ecological and cultural diversity. Plant breeding has been an essential part of agriculture for thousands of years, and humans selectively breed plants to improve crop yields, insect resistance, and nutritional value. With the development of new technologies and methods, plant breeding progress accelerates and enables agricultural productivity and food security to increase. Nevertheless, considering the social and ethical implications of plant breeding is crucial, especially in terms of biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage. Biodiversity: A Delicate Balance One of the most urgent concerns with regard to plant breeding is its impact on biodiversity. Although plant breeding produces desirable traits, it often reduces the genetic diversity of plants. This reduction in genetic variations has several consequences, including an increase in vulnerability to pests and diseases, a reduction in environmental pressure, and a potential loss of valuable genetic resources for future plant breeding efforts. The importance of maintaining biodiversity in agricultural systems cannot be exaggerated. Biodiverse ecosystems contribute not only to the overall health of the ecosystem but also provide a vital resource for plant reproduction, such as wild relatives of domestic crops, which can serve as a source of new genes and traits. Consequently, it is important to develop plant breeding strategies to promote the conservation of biodiversity and consider the long-term ecological impact of genetic manipulation. Indigenous Knowledge: Respecting Tradition and Wisdom Indigenous communities have long been stewards of the environment, developing sophisticated agricultural systems and plant breeding techniques rooted in traditional knowledge. Modern plant breeding techniques and the growing commercialization of agriculture, however, have the potential to occasionally diminish the value of traditional knowledge and marginalize these communities. Plant breeders and biotech firms frequently copyright genetic resources that were created or preserved by indigenous groups without giving due credit or payment. The practice of appropriating ancient knowledge and resources for financial advantage, commonly referred to as “biopiracy,” creates moral dilemmas. Ms. P.M. Tharindi Department of Export Agriculture Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 123

It is crucial to respect and integrate indigenous knowledge and practices into contemporary plant breeding efforts. Collaborative approaches that involve indigenous communities in decision-making processes and provide fair compensation for the use of their knowledge and resources can foster equitable partnerships and promote sustainable agricultural development. Cultural Heritage: Preserving Agricultural Legacies Agriculture and cultural history are intricately interwoven, and many people have strong attachments to the crops they grow and the land they live on. Heirloom crop types and traditional plant breeding methods frequently have cultural importance because they reflect the history of agriculture in a particular community or area. However, modern plant breeding techniques, including the development of GMOs and the application of synthetic biology, might occasionally endanger the cultural legacy of particular groups. Agrarian customs may erode and crop varieties with cultural significance may disappear if conventional crops are replaced by genetically modified varieties. The cultural history connected to traditional plant breeding and agricultural methods must be acknowledged and preserved. We can create a more inclusive and culturally rich approach to plant breeding and crop production by recognizing the different agricultural legacies of communities around the world. The social and ethical implications of plant breeding demand careful consideration as we continue to pursue advancements in agriculture. Balancing the need for improved crop production with the preservation of biodiversity, respect for indigenous knowledge, and protection of cultural heritage is essential for the sustainable development of agriculture. To navigate these complex issues, we must foster dialogue among plant breeders, indigenous communities, policymakers, and other stakeholders. This collaborative approach can help develop policies and strategies that integrate the diverse perspectives and address the social and ethical concerns associated with plant breeding. Moreover, it is crucial to invest in education and capacity building, particularly within indigenous communities, to ensure that they can actively participate in plant breeding efforts and make informed decisions about the use of new technologies. By empowering these communities, we can promote a more equitable and inclusive approach to plant breeding that respects traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. Furthermore, the scientific community should prioritize research that aims to preserve and promote biodiversity in agricultural systems. This includes the development of plant breeding techniques that minimize the loss of genetic diversity, as well as the conservation of wild crop relatives and heirloom varieties that hold valuable genetic resources for future breeding efforts. Finally, international agreements and legal frameworks must be established to protect the rights of indigenous communities and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of their traditional knowledge and resources. These legal mechanisms should also address the issue of biopiracy and promote transparency in the commercialization of plant genetic resources. In conclusion, the social and ethical dimensions of plant breeding are multifaceted and require a nuanced approach that balances scientific advancements with the preservation of ecological and cultural diversity. By fostering collaboration, respecting indigenous knowledge, and protecting cultural heritage, we can develop plant breeding strategies that contribute to sustainable agriculture and promote social equity in our global food system. 124

SUstainability and Climate Change Education in Sri Lanka for Systems change and FUtures Literacy Climate change is becoming a talked topic these days with the changes beyond the natural variation of temperature, as well as abnormal trends in the timing of seasons, in rainfall patterns, and many other systems. Climate change created widespread effects on human life and ecosystems and we have never before been in a situation like this confronting the planet. In developed countries, there is a trend in increasing general awareness of climate change. Sri Lanka like developing countries with high vulnerability is the hardest hit by climate change. Despite being threatened by climate change, investment in higher education for climate change has not met the urgent demand. Hence, mainstreaming climate change education throughout the higher education system is of great importance and effective means of developing capacities for increasing the resilience to climate change in societies. Understanding its significant importance, the project “SUCCESSFUL” (SUstainability and Climate Change Education in Sri Lanka for Systems Change and FUtures Literacy) is proposed with the main goal of “enhancing the Higher Education Institutions’ (staff and students alike) capacities in climate change and sustainability education to enable systems change and futures literacy in preparation of the climate and sustainability challenges in Sri Lanka. Project “SUCCESSFUL” covers many prioritized areas related to climate change to enhance the increase the resilience to climate change in societies. The project is funded under the grant scheme of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (ERASMUS+) of the European Union. The Sri Lankan university partners are University of Sabaragamuwa (SUSL) and Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka (UWU) whereas the European partner universities include University of Turku in Finland and Wageningen University in the Netherlands. 125

The project directly contributes to the Green Deal, digital transformation and making education accessible and equal with inclusion and diversity in detail. The specific objectives of the project are as follows. • Enhancing the institutional capacities of SUSL and UWU in management, administration and monitoring and evaluation to foster internationalization and collaboration through networks, mobility and projects by 2025 • Enhancing capacities of SUSL and UWU to provide high-quality learning opportunities on sustainability, futures literacy and climate change that address the current and future needs, especially those of vulnerable groups (e.g. women) in higher education by 2025 • Improving equitable access of SUSL and UWU students to digital, futures oriented and highquality learning opportunities in the field of Climate change by 2025 The kick-off meeting of the project” SUCCESSFUL” was successfully held on 7th and 8th of March 2023 at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka premises with the participation of the team members of the Sri Lankan partner universities and the European partner universities. A stakeholder meeting was also held on 10th March 2023 at the 80 Club of Colombo, 25, Independence Avenue, Colombo 07. The project is planned for the next 3 years period. Team Members of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka: Prof. M.Esham Prof. Achini De Silva Prof. H.S.R. Rosairo Dr. Eranga Wimalasiri Ms. Sulochana Senevirathne Prof. Asha Karunaratnene 126

An undiscovered potential: Madhuca longifolia flower Madhuca longifolia (Butter nut tree) also known as Mee tree in Sinhala language is a native tree in South Asia. The tree is grown in India to gain an economic advantage such as liquor production from the flower and as an ingredient in the preparation of biscuit, cake, laddu, candy, bar, jam jelly, sauces etc. A lot of therapeutic and phytochemistry related studies have been conducted on the tree and it is evident that it has ethnomedical properties such as anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiulcer, hepatoprotective, antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties (Patil et al.,2018; Sinha et al.,2017). Moreover, it is a rich source of sugar, vitamin, protein, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds. Though mee tree is not grown commercially in SriLanka, the history records the use of parts of the tree as a medicine, and as a food. For an example, the mee seeds are used to extract Mee oil which is rich in Oleic acid, Citric acid and Linolic acid. The mee oil thus prepared are used as a cooking oil. The flower of the Mee tree is rich in sugar. Hence the flower is used to extract the Mee flower syrup which is then used as a sugar substitute in making oil cakes and other sweet candies such as “Helapa”. This syrup is also eaten in the raw form. Sri-Lankan history has a close relationship with the tree, and the kings have released orders to give death sentence for those who cut the Mee trees. This may be because in addition to the ethnomedical and phytochemical properties, the Mee tree provides primary ecosystem services by fertilizing the soil, conservation of ground water and release of Oxygen. Discussion with a local farmer “We usually pick fallen Mee mal early in the morning around 5-6 a.m. during the season. Here in Balangoda, the flowers fall with the mild rains of May and June. These ripen raw flowers are then dried under the sun for about a week and pounded to remove the pollen and then stored to make traditional sweets such as Helapa and oil cakes.” 127

Mee tree usually grows in the wet soils of the forests mostly near the water sources; rivers, canals or lakes. Mee trees are mainly found in Rajarata, parts of Uva and Sabaragamuwa area. Though it is available commonly, only few people utilize the parts of the tree for consumption or for medicinal purposes in Sri-Lanka. This may be due to the lack of awareness or the loosing of the traditional knowledge. The scientific literature records following uses from the flower of the Madhuca longifolia tree (Mishra and Poonia,2019; Patil et al.,2018; Sinha et al.,2017; Sunitha and Sarojini, 2013;). Flower has many medicinal properties such as tonic, analgesic and diuretic and thus used to treat helminths, acute and chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis as well as bronchitis. Sri-Lanka, has a huge potential to utilize these wild grown mee trees to develop market-oriented products; food or pharmaceuticals. Following table brief out the potential food products from Madhuca longifolia tree. Due to the health benefits, the products could easily be sold at the international market at a premium price. Further, the availability of Mee treebased products is limited in the international market; where India is the only player. Hence the Sri-Lankan producers/manufacturers can cater to this identified gap. Mee Mal Helapa; a traditional delicacy made with the dried and grounded Mee flower is mainly prepared by villagers in Balangoda, Sri-Lanka. The flowers once fallen are dried, cleaned, removed the pollen by thrashing and grounded into a paste. Then this paste is mixed with rice flour, sugar and grated coconut. Finally, the paste is wrapped in Kenda / Kahata leaves and steamed in the steamer for about 15 minutes. Mee mal Syrup Fallen ripen mee flowers are washed and grinded to extract the flower juice. Then the juice is heated until it forms a thicker honey like consistency. This syrup is then used as a sugar substitute in making traditional sweets such as oil cakes and other candies. Figure 02: Mee Mal Helapa Figure : 01 Raw Mee flowers Flower • Dried flowers as an ingredient in candies, sweets. • Sugar syrup as a alternative for Maple syrup. • Juggery • Jam/concentrates • Liquor • Sweet drinks 128

Figure 3: packeted Mee flower Reference Mishra, A., & Poonia, A. (2019). Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) flowers: review on processing and biological properties. Nutrition & Food Science, 49(6), 1153-1163. Patil, Maheshkumar Prakash, et al. “Antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Madhuca longifolia flower extract as a green resource.” Microbial pathogenesis 121 (2018): 184- 189. Sinha, J., Singh, V., Singh, J., & Rai, A. K. (2017). Phytochemistry, ethnomedical uses and future prospects of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) as a food: a review. J Nutr Food Sci, 7(573), 2. Sunita, M., & Sarojini, P. (2013). Madhuca lonigfolia (Sapotaceae): A review of its traditional uses and nutritional properties. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 2(5), 30-36. Ms. A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara and Professor D.A.M. De Silva Department of Agribusiness Management Figure 4 Sweetened drink Figure 5 Mee seed oil Mr. P.T.R. Nandasena Faculty of Agricultural Sciences 129

Boosting Food Security With Underutilized, Nutritious Purple Yam Nutritional and medicinal value Purple yam is rich with higher source of nutrients These nutritional composition consists of compl sugar, protein, lipids, vitamins (e.g. vitamins A and C), and minerals( e.g.calcium and potassium). Furthermore,It contains bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, organic acids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. In addition ,consuming of purple yams might reduce the blood pressure ultimately prevent coronary heart disease. Purple yam offers a high concentration of anthocyanin which is given the purple color watersoluble pigmentation Especially, both anthocyanin (e.g.,Cyanidin and peonidin) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) play a vital role in antioxidant activity. It reduces cell aging and the growth of cancers such as lung, prostate, and colon. Studies elicited that purple yam has a low level of glycemic level and it may support for reducing type (II) diabetes.Further, purple yams can also be used for the prevention of degenerative diseases, menopause, and osteoporosis. W.H.P. Sandamali & G.A.H. Galahitigama Department of Export Agriculture Faculty of Agricultural Sciences P Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka urple yam is a herbaceous perennial twining with winged stems which belongs to the genus Dioscorea of the family Dioscoreaceae and is scientifically known as Dioscore alata L. Purple originated from the Philippines and has been widely distributed in South America, Africa, Australia, and tropical Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia. In Sri Lanka, purple yam is grown in wet and dry zones. Commercially, it cultivates in the Jaffna, Anuradhapura, and Moneragala. Moreover, purple yam is known by different names such as water yam, greater yam, purple yam, violet yam, and “raja ala” in Sri Lanka. Morphology Purple yam shows freely branching habitat and the vines grow up to 10m in length.The appearance of stem is wing-type. The leaf shape is ovate. It has large, grayish-brown skin color tubers(Figure 1).The flesh color of purple yam varies from white to purple according to the variety. Also, it is known as a seasonal crop. They are commercially cultivate from April to May and harvested from December to February in Sri Lankan Condition. Sri Lanka has been experienced food crises. People continuously feel burnt about food security. It causes to acute malnutrition issues (stunting, micronutrient deficiency, the prevalence of the underweight). Purple yam can be progessive a solution to enhance food security and malnutrition due to its nutritional and medicinal value. 130

Figure 1:Morphology of purple yam Figure 3: Puple yam jam (a) and ice cream (b) Figure 2 : Purple yam products Consume the purple yam The boiled purple yam is consumed as a meal accompaniment with grated coconut for breakfast. Studies revealed that purple yam milk rice (“raja ala kiri bath”) is the preferred recipe in Sri Lankan traditional culuture. Apart from this,purple yam porridge is popular source of energy. Moreover, “pol roti ” can be favored with purple yam among Sri LankanS. Mashed purple yam can be mixed with scarped coconut to prepare the pol roti. However,recently developed recipes are incorporation with the purple yam includes purple yam aggala, purple yam cutlet, purple yam gnanakatha, and purple yam walithalapa, The purple color of flesh can be used as the coloring for the food. It would provide the attraction to the food. “rasavalli kilangu kool “ is one of the special breakfasts or desserts produce from purple yam in Jaffna region(Figure 2). Purple yam products in other countriesIn Philippines, a delicious jam is prepared from purple yam which is known as “Ube”. Some desserts are flavored with purple yams such as ice cream, milk, swiss rolls, tarts, cookies, cakes, and other pastries(Figure 3).Consuming purple yam with different recipes can be a good solution for food insecurity and malnutrition during the economic crisis period. Purple yam is further process into flour, flakes, and chips by sun drying or milling.This flour can be used for bakery products such as cookies, cakes, tarts, pies, and bread. Moreover, researchers are involved to develop value-added products from purple yams which helps to increase consumer perception and preference towards purple yams. Commercially it has a good opportunity to promote purple yam products for local and international markets (a) (b) 131

First Farmers’ Conference “INNOVATION + 2023” Organized by the Department of Agribusiness Management S ri-Lanka is experiencing a huge information transfer gap between the upstream nodes of the agri food supply chains and the supportive policy makers and other regulatory/ research bodies. Owing to this gap, the country has been experiencing low farmer innovation and poor awareness of the existing successful innovation at the farmer level. Some successful innovations at the farmer level needs to be scientifically communicated with the relevant audience and to the farming community in the other parts of the country. As a result of finding a mean of tackling this issue, the Department of Agribusiness Management has decided to conduct a farmer conference with the participation of university academics, undergraduates, and researchers, farmers and farmer groups. Hence the first farmers’ conference for the year 2023 was so planned under the title “INNOVATION + 2023”. The conference has called for farmer level innovations under the theme “Unlocking Innovations, an investment for the future”. INNOVATION + 2023 is dedicated for the farmers, fishers’ innovation and research. The abstracts are called under the themes; • Agribusiness Management • Crop production • Livestock production • Farmer wildlife conflicts • Climate smart solutions Impact The conference expects to create a platform for the researchers to jointly work with the farmers to introduce innovation and investment for the future agriculture. Conference personal Conference chair Professor D.A.M. De Silva Conference coordinator Ms. A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara Conference secretary Ms. M.M.S.C. Seneviratne Conference organizers Conference location- Olithanna, Pabahinna, Belihuloya 132

Research Training Network on Tackling Climate Change as an Underlying Disaster Risk Driver (CCA-DRR) Team SUSL – Department of Agribusiness Management Professor D.A.M. De Silva Professor M. Esham Ms. B.M.R.L. Basnayake Ms. A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara CCA-DRR is project is in action to sharpen the research capacities of the academics in UK and Sri Lanka in handling climate change as an underlying disaster risk driver. Climate change which had been slowly but steadily striving accelerates the disaster risk and vulnerability by rippling the frequency and the intensity of the hazardous events. Sri-Lanka being a tropical Island have been experiencing these adverse impacts of climate change over the past few decades. This includes the adverse phenomena such as increase in extreme conditions such as droughts, landslides, cyclones, forest fires, changed patterns of monsoonal rains followed by flooding. Despite growing awareness of their connections in the scientific and policy communities, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation have mainly remained separate and independent. With the intention of bridging this gap, the United nation’s Sendai framework for CCA-DRR (2015-2030) placed an action plan for Disaster Risk Reduction. It highlights that more concentrated effort is required to address underlying catastrophe risk drivers, such as the effects of climate change, and has been endorsed by 187 nations. Capacity Building This project and the created network expect to bring together the UK and Sri-Lankan scientists to search for means that can enable better integration of CCA and DRR. This will be achieved through a structured training program that draws together international expertise and diverse disciplinary perspectives. Impact As an output, the project will stimulate Sri-Lankan universities to engage in highly effective policy and practice related researches which will support the country to best tackle the climate change and disaster risk vulnerability. 133

Research Training Network on Tackling Climate Change as an Underlying Disaster Risk Driver Climate change can increase disaster risk by altering the frequency and intensity of hazard events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure patterns. Countries such as Sri Lanka have experienced these impacts of climate change, including an increase in extreme weather-related events such as cyclones, droughts, monsoonal rain, and subsequent flooding and landslides. Despite increasing recognition of their links, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) have largely remained distinct and independent in research and policy communities. In order to rectify this, the UN Sendai Framework for DRR 2015–2030 laid out a pathway for DRR that has been adopted by 187 countries, and emphasises ‘‘more dedicated action needs to be focused on tackling underlying disaster risk drivers, such as the consequences of climate change”. Accordingly, this Network on CCA-DRR will bring together a bi-lateral cohort of UK and Sri Lanka scientists to build capacity that can help to better integrate CAA and DRR. Research problem Partners The Network will build the capacity of Sri Lankan Universities to produce high quality, policy and practice relevant research that can support Sri Lanka’s efforts to tackle climate change and its impact on disaster risk. The Network aims to advance the dialogue between the CAA and DRR communities by investigating differences, overlaps and potential synergies between the two realms. It will achieve this through a structured training programme that draws together international expertise and diverse disciplinary perspectives. Project outcomes How will the research problem be addressed? University of Huddersfield (Lead) UK University of Ruhuna Sri Lanka University of Colombo Sri Lanka University of Sabaragamuwa Sri Lanka University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka South Eastern University of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka Contact information | Funded by The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein Disclaimer: Principal investigators Professor Richard Haigh [email protected] Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield Dr. Chamindi Malalgoda [email protected] Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga [email protected] CCADRR 134

oes y of hich Participatory Statistics to Data Poor Rural Industries A participatory strategy promotes actively involving “the public” in decision-making processes, with the “public” in question depending on the issue at hand. The public can include average citizens, stakeholders in a project or program, experts, and even representatives from the public and commercial sectors. Participatory approach in broad, uses stakeholder participation in evaluation, implementation and in planning. Participatory statistics are the data gathered through participatory research. Usually, participatory researches use methods such as • participatory mapping • participatory modelling • proportional piling • card writing, marking, sorting, ordering and positioning 135

• card writing, marking, sorting, ordering and positioning • matrix ranking and scoring • pair-wise ranking • linkage diagramming • pocket voting systems to collect data from the study group. Unlike the other traditional data collecting methods that involve questionnaires and surveys, this strategy targets group wise data collection through focus group discussions. Hence, the participants have more freedom and the researches are able to gather a deeper insight in to the topic discussed. The data collected through this method is both qualitative and quantitative where the researcher can analyze the data to arrive at conclusions. Hence the method can capture both the quantitative and the quantified (processes, relationships and values) information. For an example, participatory statistics come in different forms and combinations; Calculating: Crop yield Counting: food security Measuring: Natural resources Valuing and scoring: Wealth and wellbeing Figure 1 Outcome tables in participatory statistics Source: Holland, 2013 Estimating: income When the applicability of participatory approach in agriculture is considered, the method is successfully applied in gathering data for the agri food value chains. In Sri-Lankan context, the unavailability of quantifiable data in the rural agri food value chains forward a huge issue in planning and proposing governmental policies. Thus, a group of researchers in the Department of Agribusiness Management have applied the participatory approach in gathering data for two selected sectors; inland fisheries value chains and rural household resilience to COVID 19 and economic crisis. The objective was to identify the role of participatory statistics in generating data for data poor rural industries and how it contributes to enable research. 136

Figure 2 Participatory discussion Figure 3 Story-telling and the focus group discussions One participatory study was conducted with the Udawalawa inland fisheries society with the participation of 15 fishermen. The study intended to identify the involvement of small-scale fishermen in inland fisheries, challenges faced by them, and to map the value and the supply chain, to identify the market landscape and potential for value addition. The researchers initiated the discussion briefing them the objectives. The fishermen were given freedom to express their views on the matter discussing. All the key points were drafted on a board real-time so that the fishermen too can see the points and add further additions. At the same time, participatory amp of the reservoir and its territory had been drafted by the fishermen. To locate the institutional involvement and their support in inland fishery, the farmers were given the opportunity to rate the contribution from each identified institution on their fisheries activities. With the rating of the institutional contribution, discussion has been made on the types of support extended by these institutions and how these institutions should enhance their contribution. The other study was conducted with the rural households of Belihuloya area in Balangoda. The study was conducted as a digital story telling combined with participatory approach; focus group discussions. 25 individual participants were grouped based on their crops cultivated; fruits and vegetables, traditional rice, ginger and turmeric. Each individual group had an appointed researcher to facilitate the discussion with the famers/growers. Discussion had focused on the coping strategies developed by the individuals to successfully face the economic crisis and the COVID 19 crisis. Each individual session had been recorded for content analysis later. At the end of the individual discussions, a map of the area had been developed by the famers. These types of participatory approaches enable the famers to involve actively in the research concept and help the researchers to collect data efficiently and at a relatively low cost. Ms. A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara, Ms. A.S. Hettige, Ms. B.M.R.L. Basnayake and Professor D.A.M. De Silva Department of Agribusiness Management 137

Belipola Arboretum is such another sustainable agribusiness operating in the central highland of Sri-Lanka. It has been established by the visionary leader Dr. Ranil Senanayake in 1982 in Bandarawela, Mirahawatta area where once had been a barren tea land. The entire forest covers 17 acres which the land areas is now an analog forest; a stage before turning in to a natural forest. Over the efforts of past 40 years, the Analogue Forest created by Dr. Ranil Senanayake is now slowly making its way towards Intermediate Tropical Montane. According to the motto of Dr Senanayake, the forest had been developed as means of overcoming climate change through the forest restoration. Upcountry, which is continuously degrading the soil due to mismanagement practices of mono-culturing tea and vegetables are currently facing the adverse impacts including forest fires, and landslides. Thus, this model forest acts as an ecological laboratory where many students from local and foreign universities including researchers visit to study the stages of forest restoration and primary ecosystem services. This analogue forest concept enables the researchers to search for sustainable means of recovering the degraded soils elsewhere in the world and to review on the government policies on forest conservation and agricultural practices. An analogue forest is made up of a variety of locally adapted, economically significant forest species that are also comparable to or similar to each other. Belipola Arboretum- the world’s first Analogue Forest demonstration as a knowledge product 138

For an example, the Arboretum contains a tea land cultivated under foresting method where the land contains tea, fruits crops, shade trees and coffee at the boundaries and in between. Such a model enables the researchers to compare the economic and ecosystem benefits from the forestry concept with the monoculture concept. Since the country has 75% small scale tea holders, may be through the studies of the comparison, they can propose a new sustainable model for tea cultivation; a hybrid mode of forestry and home gardening concept. This is because the country needs to be food secure and resilient to climatic change and the natural disasters. Being monoculture, may give more monetary returns, but the social and ecosystem benefits are at a stake. Moreover, the analogue forest help compare the impact of traditional forest conservation practices and outs puts with the natural phenomena where the primary ecosystem services are made unstable. The researchers can explore and experiment on the soil microbia, moisture, and fertility to get a deeper understanding of the nature and the continuity of primary ecosystem services. Further, with the climate change factors, the monocultures of central highland are at a high risk of catching wild fires as a result of increased ground carbon content. Thus, it is essential that the government/ researchers look into the matter in advance and propose a sustainable means of developing a solution to minimize the impact. The policy makers can utilize the analogue forest as a model and can develop a sustainable model with the knowledge gathered. To support these functions, Dr Ranil Senanayaka has developed the concept of “Analogue forestry”. Thus, the Arboretum can act as a tangible knowledge product for the researchers to study about the natural forest development, restoration and a ground for proposing sustainable cultivation practices for the central highland. Ms. A.M.S.M.R.S.G. Bandara & Ms. A.S. Hettige Department of Agribusiness Management 139

Blue Olives or “ Nil Veralu” An Underutilized Fruit Crop in Sri Lanka Blue Olive is an underutilized, seasonal plant belongs to the family Elaeocarpaceae. The scientific name of Blue Olive is “Elaeocarpus ganitrus”. This plant is known by a number of vernacular names, including; English: Woodenbegar; Indian Bead Tree; Rudraksha-Fruit; Sinhala: Nil Veralu; Tamil: Ruttiratcam. Origin and Geographical Distribution Blue Olives are, a variety of Ceylon Olives native to Sri Lanka. It grows in the island’s west and centre. It has a disjunctive distribution, with the species found in Sri Lanka, especially in Matale and Kandy districts and southern India, as well as Assam, Bangladesh, and other parts of the North Indian subcontinent. Botanical Description E. ganitrus is a large evergreen tree bearing brightdeep blue coloured fruits upon maturation. However, this plant is not an ornamental tree; instead, it inhabits tropical evergreen forests. The fruits have a nearly perfect spherical shape and bright blue edible skin. These fruits are smooth and approximately 2.5 cm long. Blue Olives have a brown seed inside the fruit with a hard outer shell that is slow to germinate and can take up to two years. Moreover, plant usually bears the fruit twice a year but some plants are found fruits throughout the year. Ms.S.J.A.W. Jayakody and Mr. G.A.H. Galahitigama Department of Export Agriculture Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka 140

Reason for Blue Fruits Blue is a rare colour that can be found in natural fruits. Many blue fruits have a purple or green tinge, which is due to the nature of the colour pigment. “Anthocyanin” is an unstable pigment that can easily be affected by the pH, and it may also cause the blue colour of the Blue Olive. Taste The green flesh of the Blue Olive is firm and pasty, similar to that of an avocado. When unripe, it is astringent, and when ripe, it is slightly sour. Nutrient Content The fruit contains high antioxidants as well as minerals, vitamins, fiber, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-anxiety, analgesic, antidepressant and antihypertensive properties. Cultural Significance The Blue Olive also has religious significance in many surrounding countries, where many people believe that “Nil veralu” is equal to good blessings. The seeds of “Nil veralu” varieties are used to make beads for prayer necklaces in some Hindu and Buddhist cultures. The Blue Olive fruit has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes in Sri Lanka due to its high nutritional content of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Health Benefits • Fights against cancer • Boosts heart health • Fosters bone and teeth • Protects eyes • Improves healthy skin • Healthy hair growth • Enhances mood • Helps brain function • Aids digestion • Strengthens immune system As a Food Source The sour, ripe olive is a popular ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine. Unlike common olives, which are often pressed into oil or cured in commercial settings, the Blue Olive is prepared in Sri Lankan homes and by street food vendors to create both savoury and sweet dishes. Young fruits of “Nil veralu”, used in pickles/”Veralu achcharu”, boiled or eaten fresh, and sprinkled with chilli and salt. In Sri Lanka, street vendors sell “Veralu achcharu”, a pickle dish in which Blue Olives are boiled, then squashed flat and served with any combination of guava, mango, veralu, green chillies, pearl onions, carrot, and a fiery thin dressing of vinegar, chilli powder, mustard seed, and sugar. 141

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AFQ ISSN 2815- 0090