H.S VIJAYAKUMARRUPASENA, LIYANAPATHIRANA2019-05-192019-05-192007-08-29TH8627http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810103832Present study is an attempt to examine eind compare the structural changes in rice marketing between pre liberalization and post liberalization periods in Sri Lanka. The study covered the period 1960-2004 and it was divided into two sub periods to represent before and after liberalization periods. Various analytical techniques viz., exponential ftmction, linear and multiple regression technique, time series technique, Cobb-Douglas and frontier production function, coefficient of variation, nominal protection coefficient and B-C ratio were employed for analyzing the relevant data. Since marketing links with the production, efficiency in rice cultivation and profitability via competing crops were also studied during post liberalization era. Major policy changes on marketing under taken during post liberalization period were closing down of Paddy Marketing Board along with guaranteed price scheme, replacement of rice rationing scheme into the food stamp scheme, liberalization of rice imports, price stabilization through variable tariff and establishment of a food supply monitoring system. The growth analysis of area under rice showed a positive growth before liberalization and no growth after liberalization. Nevertheless, yield registered a positive growth in both periods but the growth rate lowered in the post liberalization period. Production function analysis depicted that rice faming was technically and allocatively inefficient in post period; labour and fertilizer were excessively used and seed was under utilized. The B-C ratios were less than one for rice in all the districts studied indicating un-profitability in production but more than unity for all alternative crops studied. Producer price and retail price of rice increased in real terms during the pre liberalization era and declined in the post liberalization period. Seasonal price fluctuation reduced during the post liberalization regime over the pre liberalization regime due to deregulation of rice trade. Rice wholesale markets were well integrated during the post liberalization period indicating a positive role played by market liberalization policies. The value of Nominal Protection Coefficient suggests that Sri Lankan rice is uncompetitive in the international trade. The study stressed the need for a paradise shift towards increasing farm income rather than increasing production to sustain rice farming in the open economy. The policies governing rice economy should focus on developing forward and backward linkages with private sector.ennullThesis