Browsing by Author "Kodithuwakku, S.S."

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Impact of the Procurement System of Supermarkets on the Rural Vegetable Farmers in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Jayatunga, P.; Perera, M.; Kodithuwakku, S.S.; Weerahewa, J.
Changes in the Scio-economic environment over the past years have contributed to the emergence of supermarkets in Sri Lanka. Previous research studies have observed that the procurement system of the supermarket chain with the largest number of outlets has created an alternative channel which is different from the existing traditional vegetable supply chains. The particular channel purchase vegetables directly from the producer and sells directly to the consumer with the supermarket being the only intermediary in between. It was found to be comparatively more efficient and effective as opposed to the traditional vegetable supply chains in moving vegetables from the producer to the consumer. The proposed study aimed to investigate this aspect further by investigating the possible impacts the supermarket channel under consideration may have on the farmers in vegetable producing areas. The research was conducted in the form of a case study in Hanguranketha. The sample of farmers was selected using the simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and observations from a sample of 30 farmers who supply to the supermarket channel and 30 farmers who supply to traditional market channels. The research revealed that the supermarket channel pay a higher price to the farmers, which has contributed to increase their income. It has reduced the degree of dominance among intermediaries attached to traditional channel. Employees attached to the supermarket provide farmers with information and advice relating to production. However, it was found that only farmers in the near vicinity of the regional collecting centre of the supermarket have the ability to access the particular channel. Even among farmers who do have access, only about 29% of their total harvest was purchased by the supermarket. There were no buy-back agreements between the supermarket and the farmers. Hence, due to the uncertainty with respect to price and quantity, farmers were not willing to change the production practices. Thus, it can be concluded that the emergence of the particular supermarket channel deem to be beneficial to farmers. However, there is a scope for possible improvements.
Pluriactivity and Socio-economic Success of Rural Households
(University of Kelaniya, 2005) de Silva, R.; Kodithuwakku, S.S.
Despite the efforts made to alleviate poverty, it is further escalating. The past few decades have seen a transformation in Sri Lanka from a traditional agricultural based rural economy to a more diversified economy trying to move away from total dependence on agriculture. The policy focus has also been changed towards improving household income with the realization of higher success among pluriactive households, but whether pluriactivity alone will pave the path for success remain unanswered in the Sri Lankan context. Therefore, the objective of this research is to look into the differences between better off and worse off pluriactive households in terms of entrepreneurial skills and type of income generation activities carried out. Research was done in line with entrepreneurial theory and multiple embedded case study approach was adopted as it facilitates exploring meanings attached to particular behavious and how these are linked and accommodate usage of multiple research methods. The behaviour patterns of households shaped by the limited resource environment in which they operate, thus everybody was pluriactive due to unprofitability and uncertainty in crop cultivation. Better-off households were different from worse-off households in terms of other income generation activities adopted and dependency on crop cultivation as a source of income. Worse-off households had not at least utilized their own resources optimally and in contrast better-off households had utilized resources, which were not under their control, through pluriactivity, social network and creativity by exhibiting entrepreneurial qualities. The research further illustrates that worse-off households had benefited from better-off households thus contributing to economic wealth and rural development. The research findings illustrate the importance of shifting the policy focus from macro level to micro level by being sensitive to heterogeneity observed among rural households.
Rewarding entrepreneurs: to which extent the recipients match with the entrepreneurial profile?
(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Hemachandra, D.; Arumabaduge, H.S.; Kodithuwakku, S.S.
A survey based method of measuring brand equity: exploratory study
(University of Kelaniya, 2008) Malkanthi, K.G.P.; Kodithuwakku, S.S.