Agriculture in Ceylon

Farmer, B. H.

doi:10.2307/210991

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, inhabitance of the dry zone of Sri Lanka is completely dependent on irrigation agriculture. From ancient times, people of the island constructed irrigation works ranging in complexity from simple dams to an integrated watershed management system [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation

Abeywardana

Bebermeier

Schütt

2018

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The dry-zone water-harvesting and management system in Sri Lanka is one of the oldest historically recorded systems in the world. A substantial number of ancient sources mention the management and governance structure of this system suggesting it was initiated in the 4th century BCE (Before Common Era) and abandoned in the middle of the 13th century CE (Common Era). In the 19th century CE, it was reused under the British colonial government. This research aims to identify the ancient water management and governance structure in the dry zone of Sri Lanka through a systematic analysis of ancient sources. Furthermore, colonial politics and interventions during reclamation have been critically analyzed. Information was captured from 222 text passages containing 560 different records. 201 of these text passages were captured from lithic inscriptions and 21 text passages originate from the chronicles. The spatial and temporal distribution of the records and the qualitative information they contain reflect the evolution of the water management and governance systems in Sri Lanka. Vast multitudes of small tanks were developed and managed by the local communities. Due to the sustainable management structure set up within society, the small tank systems have remained intact for more than two millennia.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation

Abeywardana

Bebermeier

Schütt

2018

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The spatial distribution of rainfall has been the key determinant in delineating agro-climatic zones in the country (Figure 1.7). The temporal distribution of rainfall corresponds with the seasons of cultivation, the Maha season (the prime season) coincides the southwest monsoon rains and the Yala season (lean season) coincides the northeast monsoon rains (Farmer 1950;Domroes 1974Domroes , 1979Punyawardena et al 2003). The soils…”

Section: The Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The only exceptions are the Miocene limestones of the Jaffna Peninsula and the narrow belt down the west coast to Puttalam, the sands of the eastern and western littorals, and a few deposits of alluvium (Farmer 1950;Mathavan et al 1999;Yoshida 2003).…”

Section: The Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Volcanic material is altogether absent and the alluvial is limited to minor Jurassic and recent deposits along the limestone belt and river valleys (Farmer 1950;Mathavan et al 1999). The two major soil types found in the island are ultisols and alfisols.…”

Section: The Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the drier zones cultivation commences with the onset of the inter-monsoonal and monsoon rains. This allows for the maximum utilisation of rainfall and minimal utilisation of irrigation water in the lower highlands and tea in the mid to upper highlands (Farmer 1950;Domroes 1974Domroes , 1979Punyawardena et al 2003).…”

Section: Irrigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Why is the subsidy on fertilizers for rice in Sri Lanka continued?

Abeygunawardane¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This dissertation attempted an answer to the question 'why the subsidy on fertilizers for rice in Sri Lanka is continued amidst a number of sustainability concerns?' There is ample evidence to point out why the long-running subsidy schemes should end; but they continue. This study locates the problem beyond its current definition that largely focuses on the gains and losses of subsidies, to incorporate the roles of stakeholders and their environment in deciding the important causes of subsidies. Using the current rice fertilizer subsidy scheme that started in late 2005 as the case, this study examined the roles of two key stakeholder groups -rice farmers and agricultural bureaucrats and researchers -set in the complex interplay of history, institutions, ideas, leadership, different actors, and external influences in constituting and mediating the rice fertilizer subsidy policy in Sri Lanka.Guided by the foundations of post-positivism, critical realism, and systems thinking, the study used a mixed method approach consisting of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data was collected from 22 semi-structured interviews with agriculture bureaucrats and researchers, 189 survey responses from rice farmers, and three focus groups involving 24 agriculture bureaucrats and researchers. The data analysis was followed by a critique of the roles of stakeholders and their environment.The key findings of this study suggest that the persistence of the rice fertilizer subsidy in Sri Lanka is best explained by a model of shared food preference. The social, political, and economic conditions in Sri Lanka engendered and accommodated ideals that elaborated the role of rice unparalleled to its economic value. Nurtured by this environment, both farmers and agriculture bureaucrats and researchers have, for different reasons, constituted a support for subsidized fertilizers. At the operational scale, the rice fertilizer subsidy of Sri Lanka has been an experience very similar to those subsidy schemes in other developing countries generating benefits in fertilizer usage and rice production, but falling below its full potential due to limitations in its own operational mechanism and deficiencies in its enabling environment. Constrained by the diminishing soil conditions -perceived to be the most critical among all variables deciding rice yields -farmers found the perceived benefits of the subsidy to be beyond material measure, mediating a strong support for its continuation. The agriculture bureaucrats and researchers' support for the fertilizer subsidy was largely driven by ideals of nationalism, development, and nutrition. To these ideals achieving self-sufficiency in rice was of the highest priority. Science's contribution to policy was severely constrained by this cultural construct of rice and hence the policy choices.Therefore, the study concludes that the reason for continuing the rice fertilizer subsidy scheme in Sri Lanka is its people's intimate preference for rice that is shared across the social spectrum. Being ii...

show abstract

Shifting cultivators in South Asia: Expansion, marginalisation and specialisation over the long term

Kingwell-Banham

Fuller

2012

Quaternary International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Agriculture in Ceylon

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation

Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation

Why is the subsidy on fertilizers for rice in Sri Lanka continued?

Shifting cultivators in South Asia: Expansion, marginalisation and specialisation over the long term

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About