ict success story sri lanka

Department of Agriculture ICT for Agriculture in Sri Lanka

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Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction 01

1.1 Climate and Agro Ecological Zones of Sri Lanka 01

1.1.1 Rainfall and cultivation seasons 03

1.2 Agriculture in Sri Lanka 05

1.3 Agriculture Extension System in Sri Lanka 05

1.3.1 Training and Visit System of Agriculture extension 06

1.3.2 Integrated Agricultural Extension strategy as an alternative to T&V system 07

1.3.3. Participatory Technology Development (PTD) 07

1.4 Demands for Use of ICTs for Improving Transfer of Technologies 08

1.5 IT scenario in the country during past and IT penetration in rural areas during the Project Initiation 09

1.6 Cyber Extension for Strengthening of Present Extension System 12

2.0 Process of ICT initiatives 13

2.1 Phase I: An Alternative Approach to Cyber Extension: Digital/ Wireless Extension Strategies 13

Digital Extension Strategy 1: Use of IMM CD-ROMs as Crop Based Information Material 14

Digital Extension Strategy 2: Use of Interactive Multimedia to develop low cost Audio Visual Aids 16

Digital Extension Strategy 3: New dimension for Web Based Delivery Mechanism with CD-ROMs 16

Digital Extension Strategy 4: Develop Digital Training Material for Extension and Training 16

Digital Extension Strategy 5: Distance learning mechanism for ARPAs 17

2.2 Phase II - Real cyber extension with connectivity 17

Farmer Database for e-marketing 17

Other ICT initiatives for strengthening the Agriculture Extension 18

1. Toll Free Agriculture Advisory Service 18

2. Information dissemination through Agro-Technology Park 20

3. Cyber Agriculture Wikipedia 21

4.0 Results of ICT initiatives - Cyber Agriculture Extension 24

4.1 Impact of Cyber Agriculture Extension 24

4.2 Indirect benefit after establishing Cyber Extension 25

5.0 Highlights of Cyber Agriculture Extension 27

5.1 Instant solution for farmers through toll free agriculture advisory service - ‘1920’ 27

5.2 Crop based information library for farmers 27

5.3 Impact of Cyber Extension Mechanism increase in rice yield of farmers 27

5.4 Production of low cost media materials for farmer training 28

5.6 Cyber villages and user groups 28

5.7 Farmer database for agriculture marketing problem in Marassana Cyber unit 28

6.0 Future of Cyber Agriculture Extension 29

6.1 Lessons/Learnt 29

6.2 The future of the Cyber Agriculture Extension in Sri Lanka / The way forward 32


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References 33

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AC - Agriculture Community AE&ARP -Agriculture Extension and Adaptive Research Project AGAs - Assistant Government Agents of the Districts AgMIS -Agriculture Management Information System AIs - Agriculture Instructors AOs - Agriculture Officers ARPAs - Agriculture Research and Production Assistants AVC - Audio Visual Centre CDMA -Code Defined Multiple Access DAEOs -District Agriculture Extension Officers DOA - Department of Agriculture FIM - First inter-monsoon FPOs -Food Production Officers ICT - Information and Communication Technology ICTA -Information and Communication Technology Agency IMM CD-ROMs - Interactive Multimedia Compact Disc Read Only Memory KVS -Krushikarma Vyaptha Sevaka NEM - North East Monsoon PRA -Participatory Rural Appraisal PTD - Participatory Technology Delivery SAEP -Second Agricultural Extension Project SAIC - SARRC Agriculture Information Centre SIM - Second inter-monsoon SMO -Subject Matter Officers SMS -Subject Matter Specialists SPSS -Statistical Package for Social Science SWM - South West Monsoon T&V -Training and Visit System


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Cyber Agriculture Extension:

As an ICT initiative for strengthening the Agriculture Extension in Sri Lanka

1.0 Introduction

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is no more novices to any country and they are well

established means of sharing and disseminating information in modern day world. Further, ICT has

enormous potential in improving the livelihood of the marginalized rural community by making available

of services with low cost. Access to the information plays a greater role in improving the rural living

conditions of the poor and ICT can be adopted effectively to integrate the isolated communities into the

national and further, global economies. ICT is the well established mean of reposting and sharing

information which enables this social and economic change. As in the case of many developing countries

Sri Lanka is not an exemption in utilizing the advantages of ICT by adopting it to the various sectors such

as education, health, marketing, public services, agriculture etc.

Adopting the ICT innovations for agriculture is extremely interesting subject area and it comes under the

subject matter of Agricultural Extension. The agricultural extensionists consider that the process of

communication is the fundamental of agricultural extension, training and disseminating the information

for the development of agriculture sector. Hence, information dissemination and rural agriculture

development cannot be explained without referring to communication. An efficient agriculture

communication or extension strategy supported with a variety of innovative ICT services ensures the

rural agriculture development. This immense task can be achieved by the networking of various

institutions with the use of online communication networks.

However, knowledge and the timely information are two major factors important in agricultural

production in rural areas and ICT has the potential to facilitate the agricultural development by

knowledge and information management systems. Use of ICTs is continued to expand due to the

diffusion and increased availability of communication infrastructure with relatively low cost.

Nevertheless, it is doubtful that all the means of latest communication technologies are cost reduction

or potential gains to agriculture production and improve the marketing facility. Since, ICT has the

capacity to overcome the social and geographical barriers, the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka

integrated the ICT innovations into the regular agriculture extension mechanism to empower it.

This success story is primarily concerned on the experiences of ICTs adoption in agricultural extension by

the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Sri Lanka as ICT is the principal factor of change in agricultural

technology innovation adoption in rural areas.

1.1 Climate and Agro Ecological Zones of Sri Lanka

The climate diversity is a prominent feature of Sri Lanka despite of the small size of the island. Sri Lanka

is an island country located in Indian Ocean to the south of India and separated from India by Palk Strait.

Sri Lanka lies just above the equator between 5° 55'N and 9° 55' N and between the eastern longitudes


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79° 42' and 81° 52'. The maximum length and width of Sri Lanka is 435 km from North to East and 225

km from East to West respectively. Total area of Sri Lanka is 65610 sq km. Most of the land is flat and

rolling; mountains in the south-central region rise to over 2,438m. Sri Lanka is endowed with the fertile

soil and abundant water with a very high level of biological diversity. Predominantly, the island is an

agriculture based county as in many developing countries.

Rainfall is most important weather parameter while temperature is considered the next importance in

Figure 01: Agro Ecological Zones of Sri Lanka


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deciding various climatic variations. Three major climatic zones have been identified based on the

average annual rainfall, which varies from about 900 mm to over 5,500 mm. The Wet Zone is located in

the southwestern part of the island up to central hill county which receives relatively high mean annual

rainfall over 2,500 mm and the Dry Zone is situated along the northern and eastern part of the island

which receives a mean annual rainfall of less than 1,750 mm. The Intermediate zone located in between

the Wet Zone and Dry Zone around the north and east part of the central hill receives a mean annual

rainfall between 1,750 to 2,500 mm. Temperature difference in the island is relatively uniform

throughout the county. Temperature and altitude has a direct relationship due to the Atmospheric Laps

Rate. Therefore, with the altitude the temperature can be predicted. According the altitude Sri Lanka

has three major regions known as Low country, Mid Country and Up Country. Since there in no place

receives less than 250 mm rainfall, Sri Lanka does not have an Arid Zone. The latest classifications based

on climatic factors and soil characteristics, Sri Lanka comprises of 46 Agro Ecological Zones. Variation of

the important climatic factors such as rainfall, temperature, sunshine, solar radiation and evaporation

with soil type and land use pattern are considered in defining these Agro Ecological Zones.

1.1.1 Rainfall and cultivation seasons

Annual rainfall pattern in Sri Lanka is characterized by four distinct rainfall seasons, namely South West

Monsoon (SWM), North East Monsoon (NEM) and two Inter monsoonal periods.

Figure

02: South West Monsoon (SWM) Figure 03: North East Monsoon (NEM)

The South West Monsoon, which brings heavy rains to the western and southwestern slopes of the

central highlands and to a lesser degree in adjoining lowlands in West, South, and Southwest during the

months from June to September (Figure 2). The North East Monsoon, which brings fair amount of rains

to the eastern side of the central hills, adjoining lowlands and to a lesser degree in Northern parts of the

Island during the months in January and February (Figure 3). During inter-monsoonal months (March-

April and October-November), the Island receives heavy rains due to convectional activity especially

during October and November. Out of these four inter-monsoonal months, the first two are referred as

the “First inter-monsoon (FIM)” while the last two months as the “Second inter-monsoon (SIM)” (Figure

4).


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Figure 04: Rainfall Pattern and Cultivation Seasons of Sri Lanka

Out of four rainfall seasons, two consecutive rainy seasons make up the major growing seasons of Sri

Lanka, namely Yala and Maha seasons. Generally Yala season is the combination of FIM and SWM rains.

However, since SWM rains are not effective over the Dry zone it is only the FIM rains that fall during the

Yala season in the Dry zone from mid March to early May. Being effective only for two months, the Yala

season is considered as the minor growing season of the Dry zone. The major growing season of the

whole country, Maha begins with arrival of SIM rains in Mid September/October and continues up to

late January/February with the NEM rains.

Table 01: Rainfall and cultivation seasons in Sri Lanka

Cultivation Season Rains Period in Months

Yala

(Minor)

First Inter Monsoon (FIM) rains March - April

South West Monsoon (SWM) rains May - September

Maha

(Major)

Second Inter Monsoon (SIM) rains October - November

North East Monsoon (NEM) rains November - February

1.2 Agriculture in Sri Lanka


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Agriculture is yet considered as the backbone of the economy of Sri Lanka since it contributes

significantly to the export earnings as in many developing countries in the South Asian region. However,

Sri Lankan agriculture is mainly based on small-sized family-owned dispersed units. On the other hand,

government or privately owned large scale farms are rather low levels. The Agriculture sector showed a

growth rate of 3.2 per cent in year 2009 over 7.5 in year 2008. This is mainly because of the reduction in

tea production due to unfavourable environment condition prevailed during the year 2009. Contribution

of agriculture as share of Gross Domestic Production (GDP) fairly stable and which was 12.0 in year 2009

over 12.1 in year 2008. During 2008, the Agriculture sector reflected a diverse performance with a

positive contribution to economic growth.

Country as a whole is constituted by 25 administrative districts all of which is encompassed in to nine

provinces. Of these, nearly four fifths are predominantly agricultural districts with over 60% of the total

population living in them. Majority of the population in these districts constitutes the farming

community they, by and large are the ones who keep the nation feeding. Apart from plantation

agriculture which looks after large scale plantation level crops like tea, rubber, coconut along with other

crops like cinnamon, pepper, coffee, cloves, nutmeg etc grown extensively for the export market almost

all other food crops are grown by farmers majority of who own land plots less than 02 hectares. This

makes agriculture mainstay of a major sector of the population on the one hand, and they are spread

nearly everywhere in the country rather thinly on the ground on the other hand. The sub-sectors, such

as paddy, sugar, fish and rubber, showed substantially high growth rates. The remarkable growth of

paddy production was attributable to an increase of the extent of lands cultivated due to high farm gate

prices for paddy, the liberation of the Eastern Province, and the effect of the government national

programme to increase domestic agriculture production.

1.3 Agriculture Extension System in Sri Lanka

Agriculture based society and the spice crop based export economic system is persisted in long history in

Sri Lanka even before the colonial regime. Well organized institutional arrangements, well developed

local technologies supported with local customs and traditions were the distinct features of this success.

With the beginning of the colonial regime, which drove towards the establishment of a centralized

administration, the village based social system deteriorated. Priority given was the plantation sector and

the sustainable traditional agricultural systems were neglected. Later, it was realized by the government

that food production should be considered as a priority area. Few Agriculture Instructors (AIs) were

appointed under Government Agents in order to increase the local food Production through agriculture

extension during the later part of the 19th Century. During 1904 Ceylon Agriculture Society for formed to

support the local native farmers through the transfer of cultivation knowledge and experience by the

landowners, planters agriculturist. Agriculture Extension was significant after inception of Department

of Agriculture in 1912 and the Ceylon Agriculture Society was absorbed in to the DOA during the 1921,

which was mainly concentrated on plantation sector.

There were six Agriculture Divisions headed by Agriculture Officers (AOs) and Agriculture Instructors

(AIs) were serving as the field level extension workers who came in direct contact with the farmers. The


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outbreak of the Second World War followed by food shortages made the Government revise its

agricultural development policies. The AIs were released to the Assistant Government Agents of the

Districts (AGAs) to be engaged in promoting food production. Sri Lankan government emphasized rice

production by supporting the initiatives such as reconstruction of old irrigation tanks, settlement

schemes, establishment of government farms for research and development with seed production

service and establishment of demonstration field. Department of Food Production was established in

1952. Food Production Officers (FPOs) were appointed for above task. Many FPOs did not have any

agriculture qualifications. The designation of FPO was later changed to Krushikarma Vyaptha Sevaka

(KVS) and subsequent recruitment was from individuals who completed one year training course in

practical farm schools. This led to the new cadre of Extension Officers direct contact with the farmers at

the village level. During the 1956 District Agriculture Extension Officers (DAEOs) were in-charge of 22

administrative districts in Sri Lanka. Division of Agriculture Extension was established under Department

of Agriculture during the year 1963 and agriculture extension which was confined to rice only was

extended to other crops as well.

1.3.1 Training and Visit System of Agriculture extension

Training and Visit (T&V) System of Agriculture extension was introduced to Sri Lanka under the

Agriculture Extension and Adaptive Research Project (AE&ARP) with the assistant of World Bank during

1980. Some revolutionary development made in agriculture extension in the country through extension

and research linkages and strengthening of the human resources through providing training to the

extension staff and recruitment of new staff to training centres and village level extension offices. The

following main characteristics were identified in the T&V system.

i. A top down approach from the head of the Extension Division of the DOA to village level extension

worker with professional unified extension service covering all crops

ii. Bimonthly trainings were conducted for all AIs and KVSs by Subject Matter Officers (SMO)

iii. Pre-planned visits to groups of farmers by KVSs.

Department of Agriculture increased the number of extension workers with T&V system, in order to cop

up with the extensive workload for the officers since which covers almost all the farmers in the country

without any discrimination. Target oriented extension system was implemented with a proper

monitoring mechanism to ensure the effectiveness of the approach to fulfil the farmer needs.

Appointment of SMOs greatly assisted the training of AIs and KVSs on a fortnight basis and Subject

Matter Specialists (SMSs) were appointed to conduct In-Service training of all extension staff and to

serve as a link between research and extension. Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) meetings

were formed to prioritize the regional need of the research and extension. Establishment of Adaptive

Research Centres in each district to conduct adaptive research in farmers’ fields resulted generation of

localized agriculture technology which was applicable to majority of the farmers in respective region.

Monthly research, extension and training dialogues avoided the weakness and inefficiencies in the

system and improved by the making the system more suitable to the farmer needs.

T&V system impacted in agriculture development significantly during the early stages after the

introduction. It was observed increased rice yield in major irrigation schemes, crop diversification in

paddy land especially during the Yala season and crop protection measures in rice cultivation, etc. But,


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later stages there were some inefficiency observed in the system due various reasons. Primarily, this

was a top down approach of extension system rather than the Bottom up approach. Heavy workload to

the KVSs since the system was more rigid and must adhere the frequent field visits. And, Peer farmers

learning was not efficient as expected from the extension system. Further, expensive extension tools

were used by T&V system and which required higher number of extension workers to achieve this

immense task. More attention was given to the contact farmers which led the neglecting of other

farmers.

1.3.2 Integrated Agricultural Extension strategy as an alternative to T&V system

Second Agricultural Extension Project (SAEP) was initiated to strengthen the crop production extension

system other than the plantation sector with financial assistance of the World Bank during the year 1994.

Problem Censing and Problem Solving (PCPS) technique was adopted to identify the farmer needs and

constraints in order to develop need based action plan. The system was known as an Integrated

Agricultural Extension System (IAES) and which were covered the following four agencies namely

Department of Agriculture, Department of Export Agriculture, Department of Animal Production and

Health and Coconut Cultivation Board. Provincial Extension Team (PET) was formed to coordinate the

activities of implementing agencies at provincial level and to review the integrated extension program.

And, the Field Extension Team (FET) members were responsible for preparing the farmer based

extension plan at the village level.

1.3.3. Participatory Technology Development (PTD)

The process of planning, implementing and monitoring were based upon adaptation of Participatory

Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques combined with the concept of Social Mobilization. The approach

adapted in working with farmer groups was commonly described as "Participatory Technology

Development" (PTD). Through the PTD, process farmers had an opportunity to discuss field problems

with their field extension worker (Agricultural Instructor) and to develop a program to test alternative

solutions for farming problems. The approach adopted to try PTD was called as “Seasonal Cycle”, where

five steps had to be followed by extension workers and farmers.

Step 1: First seasonal meeting of village interest group on upland farming

Village members and agricultural field staff analyze the situation in upland farming and discuss possible

solutions. The members decide which innovation to test and establish a seasonal work plan for the

activities agreed upon.

Step 2: Inter- village Visit

Interest group members conduct a trip to another village, where similar problems have been identified

and where farmers have started the testing of promising solutions.

Step 3: Second Meeting of Village Interest Group

The tests agreed upon in the first meeting are discussed in detail and a work plan for each test will be

prepared.


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Step 4: Monitoring Visits

The interest group and the agricultural field officers meet regularly throughout the cultivation season;

walking field to field they observe and discuss the tests implemented.

Step 5: Evaluation Meeting

After the harvest, the interest group meets to analyze and evaluate the results of the season and to

draw conclusions for the continuation of activities in the next meeting.

As an effective approach, application of PTD in 500 project villages has shown very positive results. By

conducting extension programs along in the field, it provided an opportunity for extension workers to

concentrate their efforts towards a more sustainable rural development program. The Project training

component was very effective and training programs were conducted to improve extension workers’

knowledge and skills on application of PRA tools in the field. It has further improved their skills on group

facilitation, communication, planning, monitoring and evaluation of extension programs.

1.4 Demands for Use of ICTs for Improving Transfer of Technologies

Major as well as drastic political and administrative changes brought about at this juncture such as trade

liberalization, withdrawal of agricultural extension workers from extension activities, devolution of

powers to provincial councils contributed significantly to the inevitable land-slide and deterioration in

the entire agricultural extension system in the country. This created many voids almost everywhere in

the system hampering regular information flow from knowledge repositories (Research Station) to

farmers and back to researchers, from farmers to planners, from executors to farming community, from

the trader to the farmers and back and so on and so forth. The weak inter-organizational/sectoral as

well as intra-sectoral linkages among extension, research, training and service sectors like marketing

network, financial organizations etc left the farming community destitute while the effectiveness of

research, training and extension too crumpled badly.

It was at this juncture that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Sri

Lanka having already realised the magnitude of the need of an alternative to cope up with the demand

and cry for information from people in the system, took steps to capitalise on the new innovations and

developments in the Cyber world, which were already getting closer to the farming community at a

speed. Therefore, as an ICT initiative, for the first time in Sri Lanka “Cyber extension” mechanism was

implemented by the Audio Visual Centre (AVC) of DOA in 2004 as an appropriate information exchange

mechanism which seemed affordable and convenient to rural farmers in satisfying their information

needs.

Cyber extension is an agricultural information exchange mechanism over cyber space, being the

imaginary space behind the interconnected computer networks through telecommunication means. It

utilizes the power of networks, computer communications and interactive multimedia to facilitate

information sharing mechanism (Wijekoon, 2003).


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Cyber world getting exposed to the whole world with every day passes by, intrinsically carries basic

elements required for a communication system to be developed for agricultural information to be

channelled through. People at all levels try and get access to these facilities on their own, basically for

entertainment purpose. All possibilities are there, therefore to capitalise on this situation and creep into

farmer dwellings with a material they in fact need, which is agricultural information.

1.5 IT scenario in the country during past and IT penetration in rural areas during the Project Initiation

In the year 2003 e-government index of Sri Lanka was only 0.92, which was well below the global mean

e-government index of 1.62 implying that the e-government capacity of Sri Lanka was poor

(Kumarawadu, 2003). By this time, country had a very small number of Personal Computers (PCs) and

that amounted to a mere 56 out of every 10,000 people, and only six out of every thousand people of

the population was enjoying facilities of an on-line connection. A web-based research (Kumarawadu,

2003) covering government institutes revealed that 30% of the ministries in the country did not have

web sites or inaccessible even if they had as they were inactive. Thirty eight percent of the ministries by

this time were in the infant stage and information available in web pages not being updated was often

staled in content and the number of pages was also limited to few web pages. Only about 17% of

ministries offered interactive web contents, where users had the access to regularly updated

information and could communicate through e-mail to download government documents through the

Internet.

In the same study, it was found that 99% of e-mails were not responded by the web masters. In the year

2003, the progress of e–government solutions was very slow and very little information was accessible

to users through the internet. After considering the poor tele-density (ratio of telecommunication

facility to people) and the poor e-government solutions in Sri Lanka (See Figures: 5,6 and 7) web based

ICT initiative was not introduced quickly with the cyber extension project in the year 2004.

Figure 5: Main Telephone Lines per 100 Persons – 2002


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Source – 2nd International Seminar on Internet Resource Management, Sri Lanka – 2004

Figure 6: Mobile Cellular Subscribers

Source – 2nd International Seminar on Internet Resource Management, Sri Lanka - 2004

Figure 7: Internet Access

Source – 2nd International Seminar on Internet Resource Management, Sri Lanka - 2004

E-Sri Lanka Initiative by the Government of Sri Lanka

In July 2003 the Government of Sri Lanka created the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Agency to not only spearheads the implementation of the e-Sri Lanka initiative but to be the apex body of all ICT development in the country. This agency freed from the shackles of a typical government agency through an Act of Parliament paved the way for a governing body to be flexible, pro-active and


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transparent in the most demanding of business arenas. The ICT Agency’s core mandate was to create a national ICT Plan that is both visionary in the long term and realistic in its implementation. The second function of this program area is to encourage the mainstreaming of ICT into decision matrices of the leadership of Sri Lanka – both public and private sectors. The vision of e-Sri Lanka is “to take the dividends of ICT to every village, to every citizen and to every business and transform the way government thinks and works”. Specific objectives of e-Sri Lanka includes: more effective, citizen-centred and transparent government Empowerment of the rural poor, women and youth through increased and affordable access to information and communication tools Developed leadership and skills in ICT Employment creation through ICT industry, IT enabled services, and enhanced competitiveness of user industries and services. Targeted beneficiaries of e-Sri Lanka practically cover every citizen of Sri Lanka. It aims to create thousands of job opportunities while empowering the rural communities through enhancing the access to ICT. The ‘e-Sri Lanka’ is consisted of 6 major components, namely:

ICT Policy, Leadership & Institutional Development:

To create a policy and regulatory environment that is supportive of ICT reform; develop ICT leadership

and capacity in government and among other key stakeholders.

Re-engineering Government:

To re-engineer government business processes and improves the focus and delivery of government

services to citizens, businesses, and to Government agencies.

Information Infrastructure: To construct two Regional Telecommunications

Networks (RTNs) with later expansion to cover the entire country. In conjunction, establish a network of

‘Nenasalas’ (knowledge centers), ensuring access for citizens in rural areas.

ICT Human Resources capacity Building: Aims to ensure that Sri Lanka has the necessary human resources to achieve the e-Sri Lanka vision, and

to use ICT to the maximum extent in teaching at all levels.

ICT Investment and Private Sector Development: promote local ICT products and services to the global

market. Market Sri Lanka as an attractive location for global ICT Multi-National corporations to set-up

operations.

e-Society Development Initiative:

To use the emerging ICT infrastructure to make available a range of information sources and services to

diverse community groups throughout Sri Lanka, empowering them and providing opportunities to

develop their knowledge, skills and capabilities.

1.6 Cyber Extension for Strengthening of Present Extension System

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture (DOA) having already realised the

magnitude of the need of an alternative to cope up with the demand and cry for agricultural information,

took steps to capitalise on the innovations and developments in the Cyber world. Considering the


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development of tele-density (telecommunication/internet capability) and rapidly grown e-government

situation in Sri Lanka as an ICT initiative, “Cyber extension” mechanism was implemented by the Audio

Visual Centre (AVC) of DOA as an appropriate information exchange mechanism which seemed

affordable and convenient to rural farmers in satisfying their information needs.

Cyber extension is an agricultural information exchange mechanism over cyber space, being the

imaginary space behind the interconnected computer networks through telecommunication means. It

utilizes the power of networks, computer communications and interactive multimedia to facilitate

information sharing mechanism.


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2.0 Process of ICT initiatives

The traditional extension system that was in operation for many decades in the country has a

foundation which needs not changed very much in accommodating the new system. The infra-structural

setting it has built on over years should conveniently cater to the needs of the system to be introduced.

Great advantage one can see in this regard is the possibility for the cyber extension system to merge

with the existing traditional system with least amount of structural alterations.

Considering the limitations in the original online cyber extension mechanism, which depends on

telecommunications facility, the project was planned to implement giving time for the telecom system

to get rooted in the society first. This was the time when almost all were set for a major change in terms

of infrastructural development for the enhancement of the required telecommunication facility for

people. With such developments round the corner, cyber extension program was thus planned and

implemented in two phases;

Phase I - An alternative approach to Cyber extension: Digital / Wireless extension strategies - (year

2004/2006)

Phase II - Real cyber extension with telecommunication and internet facility - (year 2007)

2.1 Phase I

An Alternative Approach to Cyber Extension: Digital/ Wireless Extension Strategies

In the absence of the basic telecom facility well established throughout the country, Digital/ Wireless

Extension Strategies were considered as an alternative approach to Cyber Extension.

The first ever project towards this was established during the period from 2004-2006, and 45 Cyber

Extension Units (CEUs) were installed at Agriculture Instructors’ offices, Govijana Seva Madyasthanaya

(Agrarian Service Centres) in 20 administrative districts in the country. Each Cyber unit was equipped

with a technically high capacity computer complimented with other facilities like scanner, laser printer,

digital camera, uninterruptible power supply unit (UPS) along with required office facilities to function.

The Cyber Unit was managed by a trained Agriculture Instructor (AI), and continuous computer training

programs have been conducted at the Audio-Visual Centre (AVC of the Department of Agriculture) to

improve computer skills of the AI. In this phase, multimedia e-learning strategies were implemented

effectively by using Interactive Multimedia CD-ROMs (IMM CD-ROMs) produced by the AVC. Five digital

extension strategies were implemented in the phase I.


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Digital Extension Strategy 1

Use of IMM CD-ROMs as Crop Based Information Material

E-leaning strategies have been introduced to cyber units by using IMM CD-ROMs on agriculture subjects.

Objective of using IMM CD-ROMs as ICT strategy was to assist farmers enhance their knowledge skills on

relevant crops and crop technologies in a community friendly, aesthetically pleasant and enjoyable

learning environment.

Extension workers were able to use these IMM CD-ROMs carrying most up to date technologies in

agriculture, as teaching tools (audio visual aid) to deliver technological messages effectively to the

farming community. Farmers either with a basic skill to operate a system or with the assistance of

another person (or Agriculture Instructor) at the same time could use the same IMM CD-ROMs as a self-

learning package for upgrading his/her relevant knowledge skills. Farmers trained this way on use of

information technologies in agriculture, would be well expected to become 'e-farmer' of the day. The

extension workers in the mean time would become 'e-extensionists' who could lead the march forward

at field level. The AVC of the DOA has already facilitated this revolution by designing, developing and

producing forty three crop-based and technology-based IMM CD-ROMs and distributing them to

established Cyber extension units.

In beating the human resource scarcity for agricultural development, which takes place through a series

of activities over time like generating technology through research, converting them to extension

messages by trainers and getting those messages over to the farming community along with many other

facilities such as seeds and planting materials etc e-technologies can be utilized very advantageously.

Many individuals’ efforts that are required to develop a technical skill in a group of farmers can now be

compressed in to an enclosure of a IMM CD-ROM and this novelty device can be utilized by a trainer in

turn more conveniently to simulate a training session. This will no doubt require lot of efforts from

specialists from different fields to start with, to produce a material, but later becomes most convenient

way to rapidly multiply and deliver them at farmer’s door quickly.

Each IMM CD-ROM was developed in a collaborative effort with the assistance of a senior Research

Officer and a Research Assistant of the subject for the technical content, a training specialist for the

process and a team of multimedia specialists of the audio visual centre of the DOA.

In addition to technical information being organized in to several chapters on each crop, a separate

chapter was devoted for compiling database on research papers and articles published by local authors

in local and foreign journals. Each CD is further enriched with a separate link for video films, which were

produced pertaining to each crop and telecast through Mihikatha Dinuwo and Govibimata Arunalu

(weekly television programs of the DOA) by the AVC.

Production of IMM CD-ROMs digital contents on food crops for the Department of Agriculture made

possible with the authoring of latest ICT tools. The production of IMM CD-ROMs assisted the pooling of

almost all the technical content of new crop varieties, good agriculture practices, post-harvest handling

and value addition etc and presented using multimedia technology.


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Interface and Navigational Design of IMM CD-ROMs

IMM CD-ROMs were produced for extension workers as well as farmers, where few of the potential

users were expected to have had much previous exposure to such technologies. (See Annex I for list of

IMM CDs) Considering the low computer literacy of extension workers as well as farmers, a familiar

concept for the interface was used; an electronic book which similar to reading an analogue book. Page

turn is facilitated by two icons; 'Next' (to go next page) and 'Previous' (to go previous page). The

contents were organized into chapters, topics and sub-topics. Most of the pages contain variety of

multimedia presentations (video, sound /voice-overs, animations, graphics and text). All media are

interactive and users may review and/or skip section, as they desire. Each page is printable and farmers

will be able to get a print. (See Figures: 8 & 9 for the interface design of an IMM CD-ROM)

Figure 8: Content Page of Micro-irrigation IMM CD-ROM

Figure 9: Typical Page of Micro-irrigation IMM CD-ROM


Use of Interactive Multimedia to develop low cost Audio Visual Aids

Two CD-ROMs were designed, developed, produced and introduced to improve presentation skills of

Agriculture Instructors and distributed them to all Cyber units. As a result, with the assistance of these


16

materials extension workers were able to produce low cost audio visual aids at their door step with

locally available material (Hi-tech to improve low cost instructional media). These two CDs with an

instructional manual titled “presentation technology” were acknowledged and reprinted by the SARC

Agriculture Information Center to distribute to other SARC countries (see figure 10).

Figure 10: The published Training Manual and the IMM CD-ROMs on Presentation Technology by the

SAARC Agriculture Information Centre, Bangladesh


New dimension for Web Based (Internet) Delivery Mechanism with CD-ROMs

The DOA website (www.agridept.gov.lk), presents most of the agriculture related technical information

as well as agricultural statistics, news, recently published books etc. (This web site was awarded as the

best government web site in the year 2008 by the Information and Communication Technology Agency

(ICTA) which is the apex Institute for ICT in Sri Lanka). The Cyber extension project established a

mechanism to distribute DOA web to Cyber units, in a IMM CD-ROM-ROM. Until the day dawns for each

Cyber Extension Units to have fully geared web-facilities for people around to make use of, this step will

certainly help everybody concerned to update knowledge bases and quench individual info-thirsts.


Develop Digital Training Material (Audio Visual Aids) for Extension and Training

In certain circumstances IMM CD-ROMs produced by the National Centre would not give all the answers

to their location specific problems. Therefore, extensionist attached to the Agrarian Service Centres, is in

a position to produce a location specific simple extension material like a 'PowerPoint' presentations,

desktop publications in the form of simple hand outs, leaflets, pamphlets etc by using the facility of

Cyber extension unit for their extension training in situ.

The staff at Cyber Centers is expected to compile a visual database on all aspects related to agriculture

in the areas like farmer innovations, local problems, key attractions etc in each cropping season (Yala

and Maha) and there by researchers, trainers and whoever else is interested in them would be able to

make use of at a later date. Such collections would make it convenient and suffice the need of material

http://www.agridept.gov.lk/


17

collection and transportation of them over geographical distances as well, for further investigations,

training purposes etc.


Distance learning mechanism for Agriculture Research and Production Assistants (ARPAs)

Agriculture Research and Production Assistants (a set of field level facilitators recruited by the

government who have no knowledge in Agriculture) attached to Agrarian Service Centres having not

had professional in-depth training in agriculture, would not form an effective and powerful force for

bringing about a desired change in the farming community at a significant level. On the other hand,

training of large number (9000) of such a cadre effectively within a reasonable period of time is not

practical due to the limited facility of existing face to face training mechanism. Therefore, as an

alternative and a stop gap arrangement, most of the Cyber units have taken initiatives to train ARPAs

through IMM CD-ROMs.

2.2 Phase II - Real cyber extension with connectivity

Expanded use of online Resources

In this phase, considering the development in telecommunication facility and rapidly grown dynamic e-

government situation in Sri Lanka, original on-line Cyber extension was introduced for maximum

utilization of connectivity. Cyber units were increased up to 85 in the year 2007/2008. CDMA (Code

Defined Multiple Access) telephone and internet facility too were provided with the Cyber units of the

project.

Using facilities at Cyber units, users could gain access to a wide range of information related to

agriculture by browsing local and international websites of organizations such as DOA, International Rice

Research Institute, Sri Lanka Rice Knowledge Bank etc.

Technical assistance is sought through email quires with visual attachments. For instance if there is any

new problem such as emergence of a new pest or diseases, it can be visualized either by digital camera

or by scanning the live specimen with the scanner and send to the Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) or the

Researcher at the Research Station far away for necessary action.

Farmer Database for e-marketing

Avoidance of numerous obstacles and barriers farmers are facing in marketing agricultural produces is

an essential task to be fulfilled to ensure the success of Sri Lankan agricultural development. Sri Lankan

farmers currently face to a wide range of problems in marketing their products. More often than not,

low prices being offered for products during harvest times, is a frequent bitter and unpleasant

experience great majority of farmers are subjected to. Marketing problem of tomato and big onion

farmers during July/August, marketing difficulties faced by lime and orange cultivators

(January/February) as well as pumpkin and potato farmers are few examples.

One of the attributes to this type of problems happened to be the lack of guidance, and hence

difficulties arising on the part of the grower in arriving at decisions pertaining to time, extents, crops and


18

cultivars to be grown. As a result of such eventualities, large numbers of farmers grow same type of

crops within the same time, without any planning, leads to further chaos during harvesting time. Very

low prices are offered for their products by intermediaries who capitalize cunningly on the situation. If

market forces are better coordinated, producers are better informed and the entire system operate on

an integrated mode, whole sale traders will be in a position to get information about farmers, they can

go directly to them without being involved with intermediaries and purchase their products offering a

better price to the producer.

Even policy makers are facing difficulties in arriving at correct decisions on imports and exports of

agricultural products, due to absence of correct information. As such, farmers become victims of

unfortunate eventualities like importing similar products from other countries when they harvest their

crops. This situation may become worse, in the event information relevant what products, when

available in what quantities etc are not available at national level.

A strong need has arisen for continuously updating statistics and information on farmers and farmer

products as indispensable matter required in finding solutions to all above problems. It will be easier to

find solutions to above mentioned problems and overcoming difficulties by establishing modern

information and communication technologies and implementing such strategies for updating statistics

at national level.

Therefore, a farmer database of each cyber unit (name of the farmer, type of crop, extent, expected

yield etc.) was introduced to the network of information repository of the DOA web site in early 2007. In

addition, daily price information from the Dedicated Economic Zone (main vegetable wholesale market)

at Dambulla is collected by the Cyber unit established at this centre in the year 2007 is now appearing in

the DOA website. This service can now be extended to other places as well.

Other ICT initiatives for strengthening the Agriculture Extension

1. Toll Free Agriculture Advisory Service

Recently a Toll Free Agriculture Advisory Service with a dedicated hot line number (1920) was

established at the Audio Visual Centre. This service no sooner commenced its activities became very

popular among farming community and general public in Sri Lanka, and daily on an average about 350

inquiries are received by the Toll Free Agriculture Advisory Service. A data base comprising Frequently

Asked Questionnaires (FAQs) is being developed every week to analyst burning farmers problems of the

week and then weekly television programmes are designed to address these issues (see Table 1-3).

Table 1: Progress 23 February 2006 to 31 December 2008 (Month) – Number of Telephone Calls

Received

Month 2006 2007 2008 Total

January - 2,875 4,874 7,749


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Table 2: Progress 23 February 2006 to 31 December 2008 (Crop Category)

Table 3: Progress 23 February 2006 to

31 December 2008 (District)

February 831 2,737 4,609 8,177

March 2,662 2,875 4,363 9,900

April 1,627 1,744 3,542 6,913

May 2,125 2,840 3,659 8,624

June 2,734 3,250 4,389 10,373

July 3,375 3,050 4,470 10,895

August 3,073 3,304 4,072 10,449

September 2,712 4,229 3,387 6,941

October 2,719 4,898 3,121 7,617

November 3,599 4,911 2,730 8,510

December 2,784 4,272 2,890 7,056

Total 28,241 40,985 46,106 103,204

Crop Category Total

Vegetable 27,937

Fruits 23,943

Others 18,029

Paddy 7,620

Plantation Crops 6,451

Field Crops 5,929

Export Agriculture Crops 5,601

Floriculre 4,126

Root and Tubers 1,818

Livestock 1,338

Medicinal Plants 522

Forestry 430

Total 103,204

District Total District Total


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2. Information dissemination through Agro-Technology Park

As a quick information dissemination strategy, the first Agro-Technology Park was established by the

Audio Visual Centre in the year 2005 at Gannoruwa Agriculture Complex (Main Agriculture Complex in

Sri Lanka) and the second was established at Hambantota in the year 2007. A wide range of Information

and Communication strategies (live field demonstrations, self explaining field instructional boards,

facilitators for each demonstration sites, instructional leaflets, IMM CDs, VCDs, DVDs etc.) are

introduced here for disseminating agricultural information to all those who visit these sites daily in

thousands. Each park is provided with a one-stop-shop which consists of a Cyber Agriculture Information

Unit, Seeds and Planting Material Sales Centers, Books/CD sales centers etc to cater to needs of visitors

(see figure 11 and 12).

Figure 11: Entrance of Agro Technology Park at Gannoruwa

Ampara 3,309 Kurunegala 9,424

Anuradhapura 7,256 Mannar 26

Badulla 4,012 Matale 3,649

Batticaloa 409 Matara 3,865

Colombo 15,306 Monaragala 1,884

Galle 5,628 Mullaitivu 1

Gampaha 8,287 Nuwara Eliya 2,498

Hambantita 5,021 Polonnaruwa 2,655

Jaffna 60 Puttalam 2,975

Kaluthara 4,038 Rathnapura 5,269

Kandy 12,184 Trincomalee 849

Kegalle 4,467 Vavuniya 125

Kilinochchi 7 Total 103,204


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The main objective of the park (A Parks) is to demonstrate current recommendations in agriculture of

the Department of Agriculture, Department of Export Agriculture, Department of Animal Production and

Health, Forest Department, Department of Indigenous Medicine and Faculties of Agriculture to educate

farmers, school children, students in professional education in agriculture and general public in an

aesthetically pleasing environment.

Figure 12: Cyber unit (one-stop shop) of the Agro Technology Park at Gannoruwa

3. Cyber Agriculture Wikipedia

The latest ICT initiative of Cyber Agriculture Wikipedia is a participatory and interactive web tool

developed for agriculture development in Sri Lanka through the participation of agriculture community

(AC). This is a common meeting place for AC of farmers, experts, academic, students and general public

interested in cultivation or agriculture. This is a read-and-write web rather than the traditional read only

website and it will be hosted under the name of www.goviya.lk and open for the public in near future.

Figure 13: Home page of the Wikigoviya website

http://www.goviya.lk/


22

This consists of three major components to attract and cover needs of majority of the AC. They are

1. Agriculture Discussion Forum

2. Agriculture e-Learning

3. Wikipedia on Agriculture

Agriculture Discussion Forum

This is a discussion forum open to all members of the AC and the discussions are on Sri Lanka agriculture

policies, current issues etc. Initially, priority has been given to the Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu

programme implemented by Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, the discussion will be based on the 21

crops selected under this programme.

Figure 14: Discussion forum of the Wikigoviya website

Agriculture e-Learning

Know how of agriculture corps and the ICT for agriculture are the two major subject areas open for the

agriculture community in this learning component. AC would have a good source of resource materials

from Cyber Agriculture Wikipedia for their trainings. Initially, this will be open for the Cyber Agriculture

Staff (Rural Knowledge Centre of DOA). Gradually, others in AC can also participate in e-Learning.


23

Figure 15: A page from e-learning component of the Wikigoviya website

Agripedia: Wikipedia on Agriculture

A web based encyclopedia for Sri Lanka agriculture has been developed and now it is continuously

updated and nourished by the AC. Ultimately, this will result a complete encyclopedia on almost all the

components in Sri Lankan agriculture. Presently, nearly 155 different articles have been posted in

Agripedia section by different users and continue to grow.

Figure 16: Agriculture Wikipedia of Wikigoviya website


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4.0 Results of ICT initiatives - Cyber Agriculture Extension

4.1 Impact of Cyber Agriculture Extension

Continuous monitoring and evaluation was done for last 7 years by using following four methods.

1). Results of the progress reports of the Cyber Units

Every cyber extension unit should submit a monthly progress report to the Audio Visual Centre.

Performance Indicators were used in the evaluation and performance of Cyber unit was calculated by

evaluating the targets and achievement. Performance indicators are given in below.

Number of training programme conducted for farmers by using IMM CDs as a teaching tool

Number of self learning sessions for farmers/ Officers

Number of farmers trained at the Cyber unit

Number of power point presentations produced for farmer trainings

Number of inquiries made by farmers for which solutions are available at the Cyber unit

Number of e-mail sent to researchers and response

Number of leaflets produced

Number of CD burning (IMM CDs are duplicated and distributed free of charge at the Cyber unit )

Number of flip charts produced with the use of IMM CD on presentation technology

Number of information provided to others (School Teachers, Students, Entrepreneurs)

Since majority of performance indicators are measurable and physically available at the Cyber Unit (eg.

PowerPoint presentations, Leaflets, Journals etc.) no one could fabricate figures and present faulty

unaccountable reports. In addition the digital camera of the unit was used to keep visual records, such

as training programs conducted by the Cyber unit.

2). Results of the Observation of Cyber Evaluation Team

Officers of the AVC visit all the Cyber units regularly.

The evaluation is based on following criteria.

1. Verifications on Cyber units functioning schedules (Cyber evaluation team visit the unit without

prior notice)

2. Evaluation of activities of the unit by going through the recordings in the digital photo library of the

unit. (Every activity of the Cyber unit must be visualized through digital photos)

3. Ascertain Computer skills of the Cyber Staff

4. Evaluation of training material/Instructional media material produced by the Cyber unit

5. Assess orderliness, cleanliness, setting of the work environment for work-time efficiency of the

Cyber unit

6. Arrangements to keep open the Cyber unit for all five week days


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3). Results of the Questionnaire Survey

A questionnaire survey was conducted using structured questionnaires with users of the six Cyber

extension units (Rassagala, Vavinna, Hanguranketha, Yatiwawala, Marassana, Urapola). Questions were

based on the eight criteria and analysis was done by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

Individuals for the sample was selected by observing the digital photographs of Cyber training programs

as participants for training programs appear in the photo. Two Research studies (undergraduate final

for dissertation and MSc thesis) were done to evaluate the impact.

Criteria used for questionnaire survey

1. Method of awareness of Cyber extension unit

2. Frequency of visiting the Cyber unit

3. Objective of visiting the Cyber unit

4. Quality, clarity and appropriateness of information provided by the Cyber unit

5. Participation for training at Cyber unit and the quality of training due to new digital instructional

media material (IMM CDs, Power Point, Visual database etc.)

6. User interface and navigation scheme of IMM CDs

7. Perception of information presented in CDs

8. Computer skills and interest of Cyber staff

4). Field Impact Survey

One field impact survey was conducted with farmers under the purview of Ambalantota Cyber unit. A

special attention was given to Wileyaya (52 Acres, 18 farmers) in Ridiyagama, as rice yield of farmers in

this village was very poor for several years due to low knowledge in latest innovation such as use of

straw, paddy husk charcoal, water management system etc. This Cyber unit has also taken initiative to

publish a quarterly magazine on local Agriculture (“Denimanya”) issues by using the Cyber facility.

4.2 Indirect benefit after establishing Cyber Extension

I. Keeping the Rural Agriculture Extension Office opened through the entire week

Customarily, the Agriculture Instructor’s office of the Agrarian Service Centres is kept opened for public

only on Wednesdays and this day is treated as the office day of the Agriculture Instructor. Public can

visit AI and consult him/her for any need in the office, during office hours, which stretch from 0830 hr

till 1630 hr of the day

.

With the provision of Cyber facility to AI's office, arrangements were made to keep the Cyber unit and

office opened for all five week days and Agriculture Research and Production Assistants (ARPAs) and

field extension workers are required to manage the Cyber unit, while the AI is away. This arrangement

while extending a novelty facility to the farming community, makes it possible for them to visit Agrarian

Service Centre all five week days for their other agricultural needs, which otherwise was limited to only

Wednesdays hitherto. However, we found that this arrangement is not working effectively in the field,

as ARPAs are administrated by another government department.


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II. Upgrading Rural Agriculture Extension Office to the level of National Audio Visual Centre

As continuous training programs were conducted at AVC for Cyber Staff during past three years,

majority of this staff has now gained skills to render them capable of producing latest digital

instructional media materials. Cyber units spread in 20 administrative Districts have got the minimal

facilities for the trained staff to practice what they learned. These units now working as satellite stations

of the National Audio Visual Centre (AVC) at Gannoruwa can always link up with the National centre and

dispatch a service very effectively and efficiently to the farming community. Almost the entire staff is

capable of producing power point multimedia presentations and print media materials, which are

adequate to cater to initial demand. It is encouraging to note that a satisfactory percentage of the staff

is at the moment using the flip chart IMM CD to produce flipcharts and leaflets for their extension-

training activities in the field.

III. Establishment of Cyber User Groups

With the establishment of Field Cyber Units, it was revealed that there was an enthusiasm in some areas

to form Cyber Groups (user groups). A system can be developed to register these bodies as Cyber Clubs

like Young Farmer Clubs of the DOA and much result can be accomplished through and with them in the

field of Agricultural Extension for Agricultural Development by far in Sri Lanka. Cyber villages of Biso

Bandara and Mandalagiriya of Madirigiriya, Cyber units of Hathamuna and Siriketha in Hingurakgoda

are some of the villages, which have been given special attention to Cyber extension mechanism. Impact

studies are being conducted in these Cyber Villages to assess the impact of Cyber Extension in the field,

and its contribution to agricultural development in the country.

IV. Joint ventures with other organizations

Having accomplished significant success in the field of Cyber Extension Mechanism of the DOA, joint

ventures are now being considered with various other Rural Knowledge Centres (Nanasala of ICTA,

Vidhatha of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Telecentre of Sarvodaya) especially to address the

development issues and future needs. IMM CDs produced by the AVC (only multimedia agriculture

content available in Sri Lanka) are being used in these centers at the moment. Some of the Cyber

extension innovative projects are being implemented with other organizations are given below;

a. Establishment of Nenasala at the Cyber unit at Dambulla wholesale market

b. Two Sarvodaya telecentres (Anuradhapura and Nuwara Eliya) are now being operated as Agri

Clinics.

c. The World Vision assisted Cyber unit at Govijana kendraya in Kalpitiya.

d. JICA has establish three Cyber units in their three project areas

(Kandurugasdamana, Kimbulvanaoya and Rajanganaya Left Bank Agrarian Services Centres)


27

5.0 Highlights of Cyber Agriculture Extension

Cyber Agriculture Extension is the new dimension of agriculture extension in Sri Lanka to cater the rural

farmers beyond the means of geographical and language barriers through the establishment of quick

information sharing mechanism with relevant information repositories at grass root level. The project

enabled the farmers and village level extension officers to access timely and relevant information on

agriculture with absolutely no cost through the latest ICT initiatives implemented by the DOA Sri Lanka.

Many Cyber Extension Units adopted their own means and strategies with the facilities provided them

for strengthening of present extension system. The following are some of the examples.

5.1 Instant solution for farmers through toll free agriculture advisory service - ‘1920’

Toll Free Agriculture Advisory Service is one of the most popular ICT initiative among farmers and it

plays a great role in supplementary to the present extension system at village level due to the spreading

of mobile phone networks to rural area of Sri Lanka. A wide range of agriculture interested groups

ranges from commercial farmers to homestead level contacts this service for finding new agriculture

information and find an instant solutions for the agriculture problems they face in the field. Since, the

service is available in local language and this is service is available for free of charge with the most wide

spread ICT device in Sri Lanka are few reasons of the popularity. Toll free advisory service receives nearly

100 to 250 calls from the agriculture community.

5.2 Crop based information library for farmers

Crop based information repository known as Interactive Multimedia CDs in Cyber Extension Units are

more popular among farmers and officers since each IMM CD provides a complete collection of

information on crop cultivation at a mouse click with a user friendly interface which do not require much

computer skills to browse. IMM CDs are frequently used as a self learning tool and they plays a great

role in agriculture trainings by the AIs. Paddy, papaya, banana, micro-irrigation, vegetable cultivation

and floriculture CDs are more popular not only among farmers but also among general public. Cyber

Extension Unit located Rassagala Agrarian Services Centre effectively used the IMM CD collection by

establishing an Agriculture Information Library for farmers out of which majority of them are vegetable

cultivators. They learnt latest vegetable cultivation techniques, latest varieties, environmental friendly

pest control techniques, post harvest handling of vegetables and value addition of vegetables through

this IMM CD library with the assistance of the AI. The CDs are provided to the farmers by burning in to

the CDs on request.

5.3 Impact of Cyber Extension Mechanism increase in rice yield of farmers

Wileyaya is village comprises of 52 acres of paddy land owned by nearly 18 farmers in Ridiyagama,

which comes under the purview of Ambalantota Cyber Unit. The Agriculture Officers observed that the

paddy yield was stagnated for a long period and they have identified that the problem can be solved by

the adoption latest technologies used in paddy cultivation such as use of straw, paddy husk charcoal and

better water management system. Therefore, Cyber staff conducted several training programs for the


28

farmers and the village level officers involved in agriculture in the Cyber unit during the year 2005 and

the yield was gradually increased from following season and continue to perform well.

5.4 Production of low cost media materials for farmer training

One of the strategies introduced through the Cyber Extension mechanism to promote the production of

low cost audio visual aids/ media materials for field level farmer trainings where there is no capacity to

use these technologies. And, further, the local and specific agriculture problems to be emphasized.

Mannar Cyber Extension unit was placed in the security area during the war is ongoing. But, farmers are

in the area where computer cannot be placed due to security reason. Therefore, Flipcharts were the

main media material used for farmer trainings. Therefore, Mannar Cyber Extension unit has been

produced nearly 10 flipcharts in Tamil medium per year during the cultivation season since year 2005.

Ninthevur Cyber Extension units are leaders in preparing Tamil medium PowerPoint presentations in

training farmers.

5.6 Cyber villages and user groups

Biso Bandara and Mandalagiriya of Madirigiriya, Cyber units of Hathamuna and Siriketha in

Hingurakgoda are some of the Cyber villages were formed as a farmer group with special emphasis to

seed paddy production farmers to solve their problems since seed paddy is one of the major inputs in

paddy cultivation. Cyber extension mechanism played a major role for the Cyber villages in their

information and training requirements. Further, recently there is another village level group formed

with the Anthurium growers in Sravasthipura Cyber Extension unit in Anuradhapura district. Anthurium

cultivation CD greatly assisted the technology transfer in Anthurium cultivation.

5.7 Farmer database for agriculture marketing problem in Marassana Cyber unit

Agriculture Management Information System (AgMIS) is a web based database known as farmer

database was first initiated with special emphasis to Marassana Cyber Extension unit and other Cyber

Units in Kandy district and later that was spread to other Cyber units as well. But, almost all the other

Cyber Units were not able to continue update the farmer database due to two major reasons of

disconnection of internet facility and the lack of officers to collection and updating of the database

except Marassana and Maspanna Cyber Extension units.


29

6.0 Future of Cyber Agriculture Extension

6.1 Lessons/Learnt

I. Lack of awareness

Lack of awareness was identified as the main drawback for not using the Cyber facility of the Agrarian

Service Centre. Even though farmers have seen the computer facility in the office of the Agriculture

Instructor they have thought that the facility is not for farmers and computer is for office work of the

Agriculture Instructor. To overcome the problem a name board and a poster was given to display at the

office to inform people that computer facility is available for farmers. (See Figure 17)

Figure 17: A Cyber Extension Unit

Mass media strategies were not used as the project is confined to only 85 Cyber units out of 550 units in

the island and therefore localized awareness programs were implemented.

The project management has launched a new communication awareness initiative known as

Information days. This was a use of multiple media approach in one day at the Cyber unit and four such

Information days were organized in the year 2007; one at Marassana, Rassagala, Polonnaruwa and

Buththala. A Street drama, Muppet show, Mobile Cyber exhibition stall and Banners were used as media

strategies; in addition to face to face farmer/extension/research dialogues for specific agricultural

technical issues in the area (see Figure 18).


30

Figure 18: A Street Drama Group of the AVC demonstrating use of IMM CDs

Politicians, Administrators, Farmer leaders, School children and teachers in the area were invited for the

information day. After this awareness program, number of farmers and especially, school children

visiting the cyber unit was increased rapidly. It was observed that most of the school children come to

Cyber unit for completion of their Ordinary level and Advanced level projects activities. In addition to

the above program a mobile exhibition unit of the AVC participates for exhibitions in the country to

create awareness (see Figure 19).

Figure 19: Mobile Exhibition Unit to Promote Cyber Agriculture Extension Unit

II. Problem of officers who manage the Cyber unit

Since existing staff (Agriculture Instructors) of the DOA are utilized for Cyber extension, considerable

effort was given to improve the computer skills of the Cyber Staff. It is evident that young officers are

more interested and enthusiastic in gaining digital knowledge than older officers. It was also found that

some of the Agricultural Instructors neglect to maintain the farmer database due to hectic work load.

Therefore, some of the older Agriculture Instructor of the Cyber unit was replaced with younger officers

who were recruited recently. The digital touch to extension system has enhanced the practicality,

assured effectiveness and sustained the credibility of the system and upheld the pride and dignity of the

extension staff of the DOA. It was observed that new look/appearance given to Agriculture Instructors

office with additional facilities, outlook etc as a part of the whole program has generated extra-ordinary


31

enthusiasm among visitors. So much so, most of the farmer societies of the area have shown keen

interest in getting their Agriculture Instructors’ Offices too modernized same way.

III. Administration problems

As usual with most government programs in the country, several administrative constraints and

obstacles have been observed to occur in few Cyber units. Lack of administrative support and backing

from higher officers (especially when their own offices don't have similar facilities as at Cyber units),

insufficient financial resources for meeting day to day needs, transferring of trained Cyber staff,

tendency to abuse and miss use of some of the digital facilities are few of the problems encountered.

Therefore, steps have been taken to appoint a senior officer at provincial and inter provincial level to co-

ordinate Cyber extension activities with other inter-organizational as well as intra-organizational sectors.

IV. Negative attitude of some individuals at senior management levels towards ICT initiatives

Some individuals at this stage seem to feel that ICT is too advance for developing countries like ours.

Influence such people can bring on activities of this program will certainly have negative effects on the

same. Therefore, need arises for considerable lobbying to bring about necessary changes in mindset. In

this endeavour, political back-up that usually helps overcoming such problems would be a blessing. Thus,

efforts have been taken to invite politicians and their participation in opening ceremonies of Cyber units.

As a result some of the Provincial Ministers have taken steps to open new Cyber units, similar to DOA

Units, in the Agrarian Service Centres in their provinces. (31 units were established by the Eastern

Provincial council)


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6.2 The future of the Cyber Agriculture Extension in Sri Lanka / The way forward

The concept of Cyber Agriculture Extension is accepted by the policy makers and need of an agriculture

information network which comprises of grass root level agricultural institutions managed by a

centralized National Agriculture Information Centre with the support of latest ICT tools has been

identified by the head of the country and included in the National Agriculture Policy of Sri Lanka.

Government of Sri Lanka has taken initiative to establish Cyber Extension Units in all Agrarian Service

Centres (ASCs) after realizing the value of farmer database by the Strategies and Perception committee

of presidential secretariat. Therefore, a project proposal was submitted to the presidential secretariat to

scale up the Cyber Extension Project. After providing equipment to all ASCs (550) an island wide farmer

senses will be conducted to gather information of all farmer in the island. This will be the first farmer

senses in Sri Lanka and each cyber unit will update this farmer database regularly.

The present inefficiencies in collaborating different institutions will be avoided by adopting new policy

for implementing Cyber Agriculture Extension. Especially, as the farmer database of the pilot project is

not maintained regularly due to the problem of lack officers a new officer will be assigned to each cyber

unit as a cyber extension officer assisting the Agriculture Instructor. Since new recruitment is difficult

due to financial barriers, one of the ARPA's will be assigned as cyber extension officer.

Problem of paying telephone/internet by individual cyber units are identified another problem.

Therefore, island wide one network will be established with the assistance of Telecom which will

provide unlimited internet facility to the Cyber Extension Units with enough bandwidth to cover the use

of latest ICT tools and the AVC will bear the running cost on behalf of entire cyber units of the country.


33

References

Central bank (2009) Annual Central Bank Report, Sri Lanka, 2009.

Wijekoon, RRA. (2006) Interactive Multimedia for Technology Transfer in Agriculture. Paper presented

for conference on Building Digital collection for Empowering Sri Lanka. 1 - 3 Nov 2006. Sri Lanka.

Wijekoon, RRA. (2005) Digital extension: an alternative strategy for Network extension strategy.

Proceedings of workshop on rural information network in Asia – Pacific : Innovative practices and future

divisions. 14 - 16 Dec.2005. Bangkok, Thailand.

Kumarawadu, P. (2003). Assessing and Benchmark our digital readiness for e-Government: Moving

Towards e Sri Lanka, Proceeding of the 22nd National IT conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Wijekoon, R.R.A. (1999a). Strategies for the use of Interactive Multimedia to Training Extension Workers

on Low Cost Audio Visual Aids in Developing countries - Annual Symposium of the Department of

Agriculture Sri Lanka.

Wijekoon, RRA. and S. Newton, (1999b). The use of Interactive Multimedia (CDROM) in Training

Extension Workers on Flipchart Technology in Peiris S.E.(ed). Tropical Agricultural Research, Vol.11, 1999.

P.154-173.

Wijekoon, R.R.A. and S. Newton, (1998). Multimedia support for Extension Trainers in Developing

Countries in proceeding of 7th International Conference on Computer for Agriculture, Orland, Florida,

1998.


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Annex I Interactive Multimedia CD-ROMs on Agriculture By the Audio Visual Centre of the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka

2004 Medium

1. Paddy 2. Brinjal 3. Tomato 4. Chili 5. Big Onion 6. Red Onion 7. Potato 8. Banana 9. Mushroom 10. Flipchart 11. Royal Botanic Gardens 12. Anthurium Story 13. Vegetable Insect Pest

Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala English English English

2005

14. Bean 15. Maize 16. Anthurium 17. Papaw 18. Orchid 19. Gerbera 20. Betel 21. Tomato 22. Red Onion

Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Tamil Tamil

2006

23. Micro Irrigation 24. Coconut 25. Forages 26. Leafy Vegetable 27. Vegetable Insect Pest 28. Jack 29. Tibbattu 30. Cucurbitaceae 31. Big Onion

Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Tamil

2007

32. Protected Agriculture 33. Soil Conservation 34. Orange / Citrus 35. Mushroom ver. 2 36. Paddy 37. Papaw 38. Brinjal

Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Tamil Tamil Tamil

2008

39. Underutilize fruit crops 40. Coconut CD (II) 41. Pulses 42. Upcountry Vegetables

Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala Sinhala

2009

43. Banana ver.2 44. Integrated Pest Management

Sinhala Sinhala

ict success story sri lanka

Documents

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agriculture fim

cyber agriculture wikipedia

real cyber extension

digital extension strategy

department of agriculture

present extension system

agriculture marketing