The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT Background The poultry sector is the largest contributor, in terms of the livestock sector to the Gross Domestic Product in Sri Lanka, providing economic security to the country and food security to people. There are three farming systems: broiler, layer and backyard chicken. The backyard c...

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Main Authors: Mahadura Indrajee Lilantha De Zoysa, Ayona Silva‐Fletcher, Herath Mudiyanselage Amani Sewwandi Herath, Manamperi Muyanselage Shanilki Lochana Yalegama, Ruwani Sagarika Kalupahana, Hatharasinghe Arachchige Sriyani Satharasinghe, Anil Wasantha Kalupahana, Eriyagolla Mudiyanselage Dularika Dananjani Kumari Karunarathna, Kohilawatte Gamage Dona Tharini Layanvi De Alwis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine and Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70174
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author Mahadura Indrajee Lilantha De Zoysa
Ayona Silva‐Fletcher
Herath Mudiyanselage Amani Sewwandi Herath
Manamperi Muyanselage Shanilki Lochana Yalegama
Ruwani Sagarika Kalupahana
Hatharasinghe Arachchige Sriyani Satharasinghe
Anil Wasantha Kalupahana
Eriyagolla Mudiyanselage Dularika Dananjani Kumari Karunarathna
Kohilawatte Gamage Dona Tharini Layanvi De Alwis
author_facet Mahadura Indrajee Lilantha De Zoysa
Ayona Silva‐Fletcher
Herath Mudiyanselage Amani Sewwandi Herath
Manamperi Muyanselage Shanilki Lochana Yalegama
Ruwani Sagarika Kalupahana
Hatharasinghe Arachchige Sriyani Satharasinghe
Anil Wasantha Kalupahana
Eriyagolla Mudiyanselage Dularika Dananjani Kumari Karunarathna
Kohilawatte Gamage Dona Tharini Layanvi De Alwis
author_sort Mahadura Indrajee Lilantha De Zoysa
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background The poultry sector is the largest contributor, in terms of the livestock sector to the Gross Domestic Product in Sri Lanka, providing economic security to the country and food security to people. There are three farming systems: broiler, layer and backyard chicken. The backyard chicken farming system is widespread across Sri Lanka. The population in Sri Lanka comprises five ethnic groups, four religious practices and is from a wide spectrum of economic classes. Objectives The study was conducted to explore the political, economic and cultural discourse surrounding backyard farming in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka. The overall purpose is to identify challenges and enablers to make backyard chicken rearing a sustainable economic activity. Methods This study used qualitative research methodology. Thirty‐eight semi‐structured interviews were conducted among backyard poultry farmers in two provinces and the data were transcribed, tabulated, coded and themes were generated. Then, data under the ensuing themes were analysed using critical discourse analysis. Results The data revealed how backyard chicken rearing and its associated practices, such as feed formulation, issues associated with biosecurity, marketability and sustenance of the sector, are influenced by political, economic and cultural factors, turning it into a complex discursive space. Conclusions There are political, economic and cultural factors that may act in juxtaposition in backyard chicken farming in Sri Lanka. The results of this study can be used to underpin policy formulation, taking into account the prevailing political, economic and cultural practices and beliefs of backyard poultry farmers.
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spelling doaj-art-e8333f08e1224f69ad78b3d7c5ab1d232025-08-20T02:30:06ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952025-05-01113n/an/a10.1002/vms3.70174The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri LankaMahadura Indrajee Lilantha De Zoysa0Ayona Silva‐Fletcher1Herath Mudiyanselage Amani Sewwandi Herath2Manamperi Muyanselage Shanilki Lochana Yalegama3Ruwani Sagarika Kalupahana4Hatharasinghe Arachchige Sriyani Satharasinghe5Anil Wasantha Kalupahana6Eriyagolla Mudiyanselage Dularika Dananjani Kumari Karunarathna7Kohilawatte Gamage Dona Tharini Layanvi De Alwis8Department of English Language Teaching Faculty of Arts University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaThe Royal Veterinary College University of London London UKDepartment of English Language Teaching Faculty of Arts University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of English Language Teaching Faculty of Arts University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of Veterinary Public Health and Pharmacology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaPoultry Development Unit Udahamulla Nugegoda Sri LankaDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of English Language Teaching Faculty of Arts University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of English Language Teaching Faculty of Arts University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaABSTRACT Background The poultry sector is the largest contributor, in terms of the livestock sector to the Gross Domestic Product in Sri Lanka, providing economic security to the country and food security to people. There are three farming systems: broiler, layer and backyard chicken. The backyard chicken farming system is widespread across Sri Lanka. The population in Sri Lanka comprises five ethnic groups, four religious practices and is from a wide spectrum of economic classes. Objectives The study was conducted to explore the political, economic and cultural discourse surrounding backyard farming in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka. The overall purpose is to identify challenges and enablers to make backyard chicken rearing a sustainable economic activity. Methods This study used qualitative research methodology. Thirty‐eight semi‐structured interviews were conducted among backyard poultry farmers in two provinces and the data were transcribed, tabulated, coded and themes were generated. Then, data under the ensuing themes were analysed using critical discourse analysis. Results The data revealed how backyard chicken rearing and its associated practices, such as feed formulation, issues associated with biosecurity, marketability and sustenance of the sector, are influenced by political, economic and cultural factors, turning it into a complex discursive space. Conclusions There are political, economic and cultural factors that may act in juxtaposition in backyard chicken farming in Sri Lanka. The results of this study can be used to underpin policy formulation, taking into account the prevailing political, economic and cultural practices and beliefs of backyard poultry farmers.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70174backyard chickendiscoursepolitical cultural practicesreligionsustainability
spellingShingle Mahadura Indrajee Lilantha De Zoysa
Ayona Silva‐Fletcher
Herath Mudiyanselage Amani Sewwandi Herath
Manamperi Muyanselage Shanilki Lochana Yalegama
Ruwani Sagarika Kalupahana
Hatharasinghe Arachchige Sriyani Satharasinghe
Anil Wasantha Kalupahana
Eriyagolla Mudiyanselage Dularika Dananjani Kumari Karunarathna
Kohilawatte Gamage Dona Tharini Layanvi De Alwis
The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka
Veterinary Medicine and Science
backyard chicken
discourse
political cultural practices
religion
sustainability
title The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka
title_full The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka
title_fullStr The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka
title_full_unstemmed The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka
title_short The Political, Economic and Socio‐Cultural Discourse Surrounding the Backyard Chicken‐Rearing Farming Systems in the Western and North‐Western Provinces of Sri Lanka
title_sort political economic and socio cultural discourse surrounding the backyard chicken rearing farming systems in the western and north western provinces of sri lanka
topic backyard chicken
discourse
political cultural practices
religion
sustainability
url https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70174
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