Papers by ranjith senaratne
Cinnamon is synonymous with Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the island country that has been, and continues t... more Cinnamon is synonymous with Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the island country that has been, and continues to be, the major supplier of true cinnamon to the world for over a millennium. The product known in the market as true or Ceylon cinnamon comes from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (syn. Cinnamomum verum Berchthold & Presl), an evergreen broadleaved perennial woody tree that grows up to 18 m tall. It is managed as a bushy plant about 2–3 m high in cultivation. It is endemic to the southwest rainforest and montane regions of the island. Cinnamon has shaped the history of Sri Lanka, with Arab, Portuguese and Dutch arrivals and subsequent colonization of the country for control of the cinnamon monopoly in world trade. Neglected during the British colonial period, its production is reviving again despite the competition from cheap cassia that has a high content of coumarin, a known health hazard and a controlled substance in food by international agencies and European and North American health an...
Journal of the University of Ruhuna
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) is indigenous to Sri Lanka which holds a virtual monopoly ... more Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) is indigenous to Sri Lanka which holds a virtual monopoly of cinnamon in the world accounting for around 90% of the global trade. Because of its industrial applications and medicinal properties, there is a growing demand for true cinnamon in the world. Major drawbacks of the cinnamon industry in Sri Lanka are low productivity and quality, poor value addition, lack of market information, smallholdings, poor accessibility, and inadequate and unsatisfactory extension services. This study identified the stakeholders and services in Sri Lankan cinnamon industry and proposed a model for the local cinnamon value chain by analyzing existing literature, established knowledge and qualitative discussions. Further, a questionnaire-based survey was carried out to ascertain the gaps in the local value chain of cinnamon and to determine the gaps that can be effectively addressed through ICT-based interventions. Survey results showed that nearly 75% of farmers obtained a yield less than 650 kg ha-1 year-1 ; 15% of the farmers received a yield less than 300 kg ha-1 year-1. According to the survey, 91% of the farmers used mobile phones to receive relevant information to the industry while 32% and 22% had used smartphones and Wi-Fi facility, respectively. Further, study revealed that cinnamon growers face difficulties in obtaining quality planting material, modern agrotechnology, technical know-how and advisory service in cultivation and processing, business development services, experienced peelers and market behavior when required. Around 90% of the stakeholders expressed that they are interested to receive relevant information related to weather, agro-technology, support services, market information, etc. on a mobile-based application. Therefore, an information flow model; key functions and their behaviors for the proposed mobilebased information system are presented in this research. Hence, ICT enabled mobile platform shows great promise in improving the yield, quality, and profitability of cinnamon industry in Sri Lanka.
Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 2011
S u m m a r y : Agricultural Science is one of t h e fifteen fields receiving support for researc... more S u m m a r y : Agricultural Science is one of t h e fifteen fields receiving support for research by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Since the inception of t h e research grant scheme in 1970 by the then National Science Council (NSC) and its successolr the Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority (NARESA) and t h e National Science Foundation (NSF"), a total of 115 g r a n t s in t h e field of agricultural science have been awarded at a cost of Rs. 15.9 million in local funds u p to 1997. Of the grants awardedin agricultwe-related fields, the highest h d i n g has been on fiuit crops (26.5%) fullowed by cereals (19.9%), plantation crops (13.1'%), vegetable crops(5.50%), grain legumes (4.4%). tuher crops (4.0%) and export aqicultural crops (2.fi1%). Olher categories of crops l-eceived less than 2% h d i n g. In terms of d~sciplinex, Post-halvest Teclmology, Biotechnology, Genetics Sr. Plant Bi,eeding, Soil Science, Agricultural Endneeling & Machinery andhgronomy have received relatively lligll funding and have respectively accounted for 30.6, 16.4,16.1, 9.0, 6.3 and 4.6 O/n of funds. Of the 115-ants funded, only 8 (6.9%) were related to animal science.
S u m m a r y : Agricultural Science is one of t h e fifteen fields receiving support for researc... more S u m m a r y : Agricultural Science is one of t h e fifteen fields receiving support for research by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Since the inception of t h e research grant scheme in 1970 by the then National Science Council (NSC) and its successolr the Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority (NARESA) and t h e National Science Foundation (NSF"), a total of 115 g r a n t s in t h e field of agricultural science have been awarded at a cost of Rs. 15.9 million in local funds u p to 1997. Of the grants awardedin agricultwe-related fields, the highest h d i n g has been on fiuit crops (26.5%) fullowed by cereals (19.9%), plantation crops (13.1'%), vegetable crops(5.50%), grain legumes (4.4%). tuher crops (4.0%) and export aqicultural crops (2.fi1%). Olher categories of crops l-eceived less than 2% h d i n g. In terms of d~sciplinex, Post-halvest Teclmology, Biotechnology, Genetics Sr. Plant Bi,eeding, Soil Science, Agricultural Endneeling & Machinery andhgronomy have received relatively lligll funding and have respectively accounted for 30.6, 16.4,16.1, 9.0, 6.3 and 4.6 O/n of funds. Of the 115-ants funded, only 8 (6.9%) were related to animal science.
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Papers by ranjith senaratne