Large variability in yields and input usages have been evident in coconut plantations of Sri Lanka. The studies on the determinants of productivity of coconut lands mainly adopted Ordinary Least Square estimation which only provides overall effects at the mean. This study examines the determinants of land productivity in different land classes of coconut plantations using a Quantile Regression approach which allows the computation of the effect of each determinant in each quantile. Production functions of coconut were specified treating coconut yields as the dependent variable and bearing coconut palms, labor, fertilizer, agrochemicals, machinery usage, and rainfall as the independent variables in Cobb-Douglas form. Annual data from nine estates belong to Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. of Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2018 were used for the analysis. The results indicate that on average, fertilizer usage, agrochemical usage, number of bearing palms and rainfall have positive and significant effects on coconut production. It was found that OLS estimates underestimate and overestimate the input use efficiency at upper and lower quantiles respectively. Rainfall was found to be a significant factor in determining the coconut yield in each quantile except the 90 th quantile indicating that investments in irrigation which facilitates soil moisture improvement during dry periods would be important in improving the production. The application of fertilizer and other chemicals to the coconut lands in between the 60 th and the 90 th quantiles would be more effective. In contrast QR provided meaningful information at different segments in the production that enables to design appropriate structural policies steering the optimal use of inputs in coconut plantations.
Homegardens are resourceful ecosystems that provide essential services to the environment and mankind. Their contribution to secure household food requirement is among the provisional services of contemporary relevance. A study was conducted in 429 homegardens in Jaffna, Matale, Ratnapura, and Hambantota districts to assess the scope of utilizing homegarden resources on household food security. A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information on the consumption frequency and the number of food categories that were purchased, produced, and shared. The mean food consumption score (FCS) was 60±23, where 89% of the study population had an acceptable level of FCS (FCS>35). As per the dietary diversity score (HDDS), an average household consumed at least eight food categories per day. Coconut was the most common food commodity produced in homegardens, followed by jackfruit and other fruits (mango, guava, soursop and pomegranate). Households rely on the market-available foods as their primary food source. The study revealed that utilizing at least one food category as a homestead-resource produced, could improve FCS and assist to fulfil the household food demand significantly. However, the majority of the homestead-resources were identified as plant-based, except in Jaffna where the presence of livestock and poultry in homegarden was common. Many of the plant-based resources were from perennial fruit-bearing trees. Therefore, modifying and utilizing the tree composition and viable crops can be considered a timely option to avert household food insecurity. Further, incorporating livestock components (dairy, poultry) as a part of homegardens is beneficial in fulfilling the animal protein demand of the household.
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