Abstract This research is concerned with exploring, describing and interpreting the potential of community participation in improving food security in rural households in the Kolonna area. It explores the importance and value of the ancient village tank system as a vehicle for enhancing both community participation and food security. In Sri Lanka there still exists a network of large and small irrigation tanks and associated distribution and drainage channels that was originally established 1000-2000 years ago. This system apparently formed the basis of an effective cooperative social system that endured for centuries. More recently, several centuries of colonial rule caused the abolition of this participatory system by the British and the social structure and tank system of the village collapsed. Since independence in 1948, several government departments and international institutions have been trying to rebuild this social structure around the village tank, but with only limited success. This thesis describes efforts to document the potential for incorporating historical knowledge and farmers’ perceptions into sustainable community participatory programs in agricultural activities based on village tanks, with the aim of improving food security in a rural area of Sri Lanka. A mixed methods approach was employed to address the research questions identified for the study. It involved predominantly qualitative methodology including focus groups and individual interviews with a range of stakeholders including government and spiritual authorities allowed the exploration of the realities of village life and issues affecting food security. Significant findings not evident in typical governmental statistical reports include the following: (1) Household food security in rural areas is still a major problem. Agricultural production rather than purchased food is the main source for caloric intake of rural households and many farmers experience food insecurity due to unexpected seasonal crop failures. Furthermore, almost 10% of the residents of Kolonna area experience acute food insecurity, which occurs due to poverty. These people typically do not have secure access to land for growing their own crops but rely on casual wages work. (2) The major constraint to food security identified by respondents was lack of consistently available and equitably distributed irrigation water, although in contrast occasional flood damages to land and crops s due to flood was also a significant problem. Some farmers also believed that marketing and distribution channel constraints limited their commercial returns and income, and capacity to enjoy year-round food security. v (3) Despite the existence of several community participatory programs in the Kolonna area, they are not perceived to be successful. Only one third of the villagers are involved in these programs and more than 40% were unaware of their existence. Major criticisms included the perception of political interference and favoritism in the process governing their operations, which favored relatively few recipients. . (4) There appears to be strong support amongst villagers for revision of cooperative approaches such that management is by representatively elected independent committee that allow involvement of the most suitable farmers. This perception was linked to beliefs that a renewed focus on the village tank would be ultimately more beneficial than focusing solely on improving food security, because of the capacity to incorporate traditional community participatory approaches. Valuable features of the traditional system include sharing rather than hiring labor, dividing communal tasks among community members, and rules and regulations imposed by a recognized and accepted governing body. The implications of these findings for further research, policy and practice are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/254148 |
| Creators | Hasanthi Buddhika Wirasagoda |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
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