000			01610nam a2200169Ia 4500
008			220216s9999 xx 000 0 und d
100			_aKularatne Jagath S
245		0	_aPrivatization of the plantation sector in Sri Lanka: Financial, economic and some environmental aspects
260			_bJournal of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka _c2003
300			_a23-31
520			_aThis study has analyzed an important development in the recently privatized large estates of the plantation sector in Sri Lanka, the substitution of rubber with oil palm. Cost benefit analysis and domestic resource cost criterion were employed to assess the financial, economic, and environmental aspects of this development. Extended cost benefit analyses were conducted to capture the carbon sequestration benefits of the two crops. The study indicates that the current trend was caused by the continuous drop in world rubber prices from 1966-2000 due to the South East Asian (SEA) financial crisis. BEcause of the low price levels, the financial returns from rubber were considerably lower than oil palm during the crisis period. This situation seems to have caused private entrepreneurs to move away from rubber to oil palm. However, this anaysis indicates higher economic and environmental benefits from rubber than oil palm even at low price levels. This study thus emphasizes the importance of proper policy research to ensure the sustainable development of this vital sector in Sri Lanka.
650			_aOil palm
650			_aPlantation sector
650			_aSri Lanka
700			_aTakeya Hiroyuki
942			_cJS
999			_c65706 _d65706