International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies (ICSLS)

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10253

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Industry

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Evaluation of Feed Management Strategies in Shrimp Culture Ponds in Sri Lanka
    (University of Kelaniya, 2005) Epa, U.P.K.; Wijeyaratne, M.J.S.; de Silva, S.S.
    Shrimp exports have become one of Sri Lanka’s major foreign exchange earners and accounts for nearly 90% of total aquaculture exports. The average feed costs for the Sri Lankan shrimp culture industry is estimated to be around 54% of the total recurrent costs. This study evaluated different feed management strategies in commercial shrimp farms with a view to bringing about improvements. Five shrimp farms with different management practices in the north western province, Sri Lanka were selected for the study. Feed selection, storage methods, feed types, feeding frequency, ration size, feeding tray monitoring, adjustments to feeding rates, and feed conversion ratios (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR) of shrimp were recorded weekly. Blind feeding was employed in all the farms from date of stocking to 30 – 45 days. It varied from 131.5 – 219.8 kg/ 100,000 post larvae and did not increase simultaneously with stocking density. No correlation was found between the amount of feed given with SGR during the blind feeding period (p > 0.05). These results suggest the probability of over feeding during the initial stage of the culture cycle. Adjustments to feeding rates were done according to feed tray (6 – 8 trays / ha) observations, feeding guide supplied by feed manufactures and theoretical survival calculations. Feed tray observation time varied from 1 h to 2.30 h. Feeding frequency was 2 – 6 times a day. Higher variation of these parameters emphasizes the need to standardize them for optimum feed usage. Four feed management information transfer channels were identified in shrimp farms. These were (i) owner - feed marketing officer (ii) labourer – manager - consultant (iii) supervisor - manager (iv) manager only. FCR values in the farms were 2.0, 1.5, 1.4, 1.4 – 1.3 with SGR of 2.5, 2.9, 3.3, 2.6 day-1, respectively. Information channels (i) and (ii) resulted in higher FCR values. It is suggested to pay more attention on information transfer channels in order to avoid over- feeding. Blind feeding, feeding frequencies and information transfer channels were identified as crucial areas that could be improved for the sustainable shrimp culture industry in Sri Lanka. With these improvements, the cost of feeding could also be minimized.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impact of ISO 9000 Certification on Sri Lankan Industry and Need for a Total Quality Approach
    (University of Kelaniya, 2005) Munasinghe, L.; Prabodanie, R.A.R.
    ISO 9000 is the world’s most renowned quality management system and it has been used extensively as a basis for independent (third party) quality system certifications. Many Sri Lankan organizations have obtained ISO 9000 certification as a means of providing some assurance for quality. However quality of an organization has different aspects like quality of people, quality of work and quality of products. Does ISO 9000 Quality Management System have a significant positive influence on all the aspects of quality? The answer of course, varies from country to country depending on the country’s economy, industrial capabilities, working habits of people etc. The survey was focused on the quality approach, activities and achievements of a sample of ISO 9000 certified companies in Sri Lanka. The main objective of the survey was to identify the impact of ISO 9000 certification on quality of workforce, quality of processes, quality of products/services and quality of environment. Findings of this research provide evidence that ISO 9000 certification has significantly improved the quality of organizational processes but it has failed to make a significant impact on quality of people, quality of products/services and also the quality of the environment. Therefore the certification has been of limited importance. The certification does not help in the long run unless the quality culture and Total Quality Management philosophy is well established and maintained under the care and nurture of all employees. So we suggest that all organizations should apply the new ISO 9001:2000 as part of a Total Quality Approach to the implementation of socially and economically accountable management systems. The government and the national certification body; Sri Lanka Standards Institution, should identify how the standard can be implemented to match the country’s specific requirements and ensure reliable and consistent third party audits on which the local and international community can rely.