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UADF NEWSLetter Uva Agriculture Development Forum

Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka Volume 1 Issue 1 June 2015

Passara Road, Badulla, 90 000, Sri Lanka Web: www.uwu.ac.lk Email: uadf@uwu.ac.lk

INTHISISSUE

Ÿ EstablishmentofUvaAgriculture

DevelopmentForum.....................P.1

Ÿ AquaticResourcesinUvaRegion

andFutureProspects...……........P.1

Ÿ FarmerAwarenessProgrammeon

SafeHandlingof

Agrochemicals............................…P.3

Ÿ TheSecondExecutiveCommittee

MeetingofUADF…….....................P.3

Ÿ AnnualMeetingofFisheries

Societies–BadullaDistrict

2015……………..............….........…...P.5

Ÿ FarmerAwarenessProgramme

onProtectedAgriculture…..…..P.6

Ÿ AworkshoponBioSystem

TechnologyforA/LStudentsin

UvaProvince………........................P.6

Ÿ TechnologicalContributionof

UWUforEntrepreneursin

BadullaDistrict…...…...........…….P.7

EXCLUSIVE

AquaticResourcesinUva

RegionandFutureProspects

Dr.S.C.JayamanneBsc(SriJ’pura);PDA(Thailand);MPhil(SriJ’pura);PhD(Scotland)

DeanFacultyofAnimalScienceandExportAgriculture

Uvaisaregionblessedwithcleanwater

flowing from the hills through

numerous streams, which connect at

the lower elevations to make various

oyas(rivers)suchasBaduluOya,Loggal

Oya,KumbukOya,etc.>>>…..P.4

EstablishmentofUvaAgricultureDevelopmentForum(UADF)

Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture of Uva Wellassa University

establishedacollaborativestructurenamed, ‘UvaAgricultureDevelopmentForum’

(UADF),with theparticipationofacademiciansandotherstate&non-state sector

stakeholders who actively involved in the developmental activities related to

agricultureinUvaProvince.Themainaimofthisforumistosharetheknowledge,

experienceandresourcesownedbyeachstakeholderamongtheaboveindividualsso

astopromoteagricultureinthearea.TheinauguralsessionwasheldatUvaWellassa

UniversityonMarch03,2015andattendedbynearlyfiftyparticipantsrepresenting

differentdisciplinesofagriculture.Thereafter,aspecialdiscussionwasheldwiththe

invitedprofessionalstoestablishanExecutiveCommittee,whichwillbethefuture

governing body of the forum. In the inauguration, Dr. Sepalika Jayamanne, Dean,

FacultyofAnimalScienceandExportAgriculture,welcomedthegatheringandDr.

SamanHerath,theCo-ordinatoroftheOrganizingCommittee,presentedtheobjectives

tohavesuchaforumhavingconsideredthepresentneed.TheOrganizingCommittee

was also represented by Dr. R.R.M.K.K.Wijesundara, Dr. K.G. Prematilake, and Dr.

E.D.N.S.Abeyrathne.ItwastheresponsibilityofthoseSeniorLecturerstoorganisethis

eventwiththeparticipationofaboveprofessionalsinthegivensectors.>>>…..P.2

ISSN2513-2342

EISSN2513-2350

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EstablishmentofUvaAgricultureDevelopmentForum(Cont.)

Dr. Gamani Chandrasena, Vice Chancellor of Uva

WellassaUniversityandMr.GunadasaSamarasinghe,

Secretary to the Ministry of Uva Provincial

Agriculture, Irrigation, Inland Fisheries Industries,

Land and Tourism made special speeches in the

forum. With the Vote of thanks delivered by Dr.

Sandun Abeyrathne, the inaugural ceremony was

concluded.

Given the need and importance of the UADF,

following six objectives were identified to work in

future with the collaborative participation and

contr ibut ion o f a l l poss ib le s takeho lders .

Importantly, in a future agenda, the forum is

supposedtoworkforthecriticalissuesidentifiedin

theagriculturesectorofUvaprovince.

During the discussion session, certain participants

were appointed as the Executive Officials for the

forum. Also, eight different ‘Working Committees’

namely, Agriculture, Export Agriculture, Tea, Other

PlantationCrops, LivestockProduction andHealth,

Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forest, Land and

Environment and Agricultural Education were

proposed and formulated covering all aspects of

agriculture,payingattentiontotheagriculturesector

inUvaprovince.Theworkingcommitteeswillwork

for the needs and issues identified and to be

promotedsothatasignificantcontributioncouldbe

made to the provincial economy in future, as a

leadingsectorthatshares~27%ofGrossDomestic

Production(GDP)currentlyintheUvaprovince.

Following office bearers were selected and

appointedfortheforumunanimously.

Ÿ To initiate policy interventions and make

proposals to develop the agriculture in Uva

province.

Ÿ To develop a database covering all aspects of

agricultureandallieddisciplines.

Ÿ Toidentifyandlinkthestakeholdersofagriculture sectorofUvaprovince.

Ÿ Tostrengthentheagriculturerelatedactivitiesof

Uvaprovince.

Ÿ Toidentifythetechnologyneedsanddisseminate

knowledgeamongpublic.

Ÿ Toshareknowledge,skills,experienceandresources

amongstakeholders.

1. Chairman–Dr.G.Chandrasena,ViceChancellor,UvaWellassaUniversity

2. ViceChairman–Mr.G.Samarasinghe,Secretary,MinistryofUvaProvinceAgriculture,Irrigation,InlandFisheriesIndustries,LandandTourism

3. Secretary–Dr.H.M.S.K.Herath, SeniorLecturer,FacultyofAnimalScienceand

ExportAgriculture,UvaWellassaUniversity

4. DeputySecretary–Mr.R.M.Nandasiri,ProvincialDirectorofAgriculture,UvaProvince

5. Treasurer–Dr.R.R.M.K.KWijesundera,SeniorLecturer,FacultyofAnimalScienceandExportAgriculture,UvaWellassaUniversity

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TheSecondExecutiveCommitteeMeetingofUADF

The second Executive Committee

MeetingoftheUADFwasheldonApril

30, 2015 at Uva Wellassa University

withtheparticipationofacademicians

of Uva Wellassa University including

theViceChancellor,Dr.G.Chandrasena

and other number of state and non-

statesectorofficers.Mr.NimalAbeysiri,

DistrictSecretary,Badulladistrictwas

oneamongthem.

Duringthismeeting,specialfocuswas

given on collecting information on

‘Present Status of Uva Agriculture’.

Afterthegeneralmeeting,membersof

differentworkingcommitteesmetand

compiled the information about

followingaspects:currentstatus(facts

and figures), problems and current

issues,ongoingprogrammesrelatedto

developmental activities and future

plans.Finally,eachworkingcommittee

didpresentallcollectedinformationto

thegatheringanddiscussedaboutthe

contribution that they canmakewith

the mediation of Uva Agriculture

DevelopmentForuminfutureactivities

tobeorganised.

Export Agriculture Department of

UvaWellassa University conducted

an awareness programme for the

farmers ofBadulla district on ‘Safe

HandlingofAgrochemicals’sincethe

wayofhandlingtheagrochemicalsis

not up to the standardmethods at

present. The first programme was

held onMarch 02 and 03, 2015 at

Malapola in Uva Paranagama and

Ambewelagama in Kappetipola,

respectively, with the support of

Department of Agriculture, Uva

province. Famers were provided

withtheknowledgeoncorrectand

FarmerAwarenessProgrammeonSafeHandlingofAgrochemicals

safe handling of agrochemicals

with the aid of presentations,

demonstrationsandotherrelevant

methods.Mr.A.N.R.Weerawansha,

Lecturer, representing Faculty of

Animal Science and Export

Agricultureconductedthesessions.

Uva Wellassa University always

takes exceptionalcareinbuilding

of relationships with the outside

f a rm i n g c ommun i t i e s a nd

therefore, this is considered to be

such an event organized for the

rural farmers of the area. The

university will engage in similar

worksinfutureaswell.

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Aquatic Resources in Uva and Future Prospects

(Cont.)

Crystalclearwatercomingdownwiththestreamsgetpolluted

through agricultural fertilizers and pesticides and other

anthropogenic activities. In addition to lotic water such as

streamsandoyas,therearelenticresourcesthatareman-made

by the ancient kings and giants. They are available in the

provincewith an extent of 3,400ha ofwater area inBadulla

districtand13,100hawaterareainMoneragaladistrict.Also,

two major reservoirs, 11 medium and 128 small tanks are

availableintheprovince.Accordingtoarecentstudyconducted

by Uva Wellassa University, fish, crustacean and molluscan

resources-bothedible&ornamentalandornamentalaquatic

plants - have been identified from the province. Edible fish

speciesfoundinreservoirsoftheprovinceisgivenintheTable1.

Table2.OrnamentalfishrecordedfromLoggalOya,Badulu

OyaandMenikGanga.

Several ornamental aquatic plants, which have export

potentialhavebeenfoundinUvaprovince. Plate3.Lagenandraspp.

However,thefishproductionintheprovinceislower

comparedtothefishproductioninotherprovinces.

There is a great potential in enhancing the

productionoffishandcrustaceansinreservoirsas

well as there is a potential for establishing

ornamentalfishandplantindustryinUvaprovince.

TheaquaticresourcesintheUvaprovinceindicatea

potentialformanyresearchandalsoapossibilityof

initiating a cottage industry to improve the

livelihoodsofUvacommunity.

Three Cryptocoryne species (Plate 2) ;

Cryptocorynewendtii(brownandgreenvarieties),

Cryptocoryne walkeri and Cryptocoryne

retrospiralis(tobeconfirmed),whichareendemic,

havebeenidentifiedbytheresearchteamofUva

WellassaUniversity.

Lagenandra spp. (Plate 3), Ludwigia spp.,

Ceretopterisspp.andCyperusspp.arecommonly

foundinallstreamsintheUvaprovince. Itisalso

believedthattheancientpeoplehaveestablished

Cyperusplantsinstreamssothattherootsystem

helpspurifywater.

Plate1.Someidentifiedfishspecies

Plate2.Cryptocorynespp.

Puntius bimaculatus Devario malabaricus

Garra ceylonensis

Table1.Ediblefishfaunaininlandreservoirs.

The ornamental fish species recorded by Uva Wellassa

UniversityfromthestreamsinUvaprovincearegiveninTable2

whilepicturesofsomeimportantspeciesaregiveninPlate1.

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AnnualMeetingofFisheriesSocietiesin

BadullaDistrict2015

As a follow up programme of the Uva Agriculture

Development Forum, theAnnual GeneralMeeting of the

FisheriesSocietiesofBadullaDistrict–2015washeldon

May12,2015at theCulturalCenter,Mahiyangana. This

wasattendedbytheUvaWellassaUniversityacademicstaff

alongwiththeExtensionOfficersofNationalAquaculture

DevelopmentAuthorityofSriLanka(NAQDA).Themeeting

hadbeenorganizedtodiscussabouttheissuesfacedbythe

fishermen in the district. Secretary of Ministry of

Agriculture - Uva Province, Extension Officer - NAQDA,

Cooperative Society Officer and representatives of

FisheriesSocietiesofBadulladistrictalsotookpartinthe

meeting.

Aquestionnairesurveywasperformedwiththemembers

offisheriessocietiesofreservoirsofBadulladistrictasto

identify the problems that they are facing. The issues

identifiedweregivenbelow.

IssuesIdentified

Suggestionsfrommembersofthefishing

societies

1. LackofcoordinationofUlhitiyareservoirasitis

dividedintothreeparts

2. Changesinattitudesoffishermen(useofillegalfishing

methods)

3. Extensivealgaecoverageofthereservoirs

4. Problemsinfishbreeding/feeding

5. Illegalfishingactivities/Useofbannedfishinggears

6. Unavailability/Insufficiencyoffishingboats

7. Insufficientnumberofforestofficers

8. Growthofoverfishing

9. Lackofsupportfromgovernmentofficers

10. Lackofsuitablefishinggears–netswith14”mesh

11. Nopropersecuritysystemforreservoir

activities

12. Lackofintroductionoffishseeds(Insufficient

fishstockinthereservoir)

13. Highcostoffishingnets

14. Lackofknowledgeonfishingrulesand

regulations

1. Introductionoffishseeds/fingerlings

2. RearingofTilapia

3. Needofpropertrainingonfishing

4. AppointingmoreNAQDAofficersformonitoring

fishingactivities

5. Breedingoffreshwaterprawns

6. Controlofwaterflowofthereservoirsforfish

rearingactivities

7. Needofgovernmentsupporttoprotect/conserve

fisheriesresourcesandthereservoirs

(Eg.Observationofillegalfishingactivities)

8. Needofconductingwaterqualitymonitoring

programmes

9. Needofselfemploymenttrainingprogrammesfor

womenengagedinfishing

10. Needoftrainingprogrammesonfishing

11. Organizeworkshopstochangetheattitudesof

fishermen

12. Provisionoffishnetswithmeshsizes6’’,7’’,10’’

and14’’

13. Government support for the development of

fisheriesindustry(supplyingoffishinggears,boats

etc.)

TheInlandFisheriesandAquaculturecommitteewill

attendtotheaboveproblemstofindpossiblesolutions

inthefuture.

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FarmerAwarenessProgramonProtectedAgriculture

Department of Export Agriculture conducted an

awarenessprogrammeforfarmersoftheWelimadaarea

on“ProtectedAgriculture”.Theprogrammewasheldon

May 14, 2015 at Divithotawela, Welimada with the

supportandsponsorshipofExportDevelopmentBoard

(EDB) of Sri Lanka. Famers were provided with the

knowledge and practical experience on selection of

nurserymedia,soil-lesscultureandmanagementofpests

anddiseasesofbellpepper,saladcucumberandtomato,

whicharegrownonhydroponics.

The following officers participated in this event

representingDivisionalSecretariat,WelimadaandExport

DevelopmentBoard:Ms.G.A.Ramyalatha,Administrative

Officer,DivisionalSecretariat,WelimadaandMr.AkilaDe

Zoysa, Assistant Director, Export Development Board,

ProvincialOffice,Uva.

Also, the lecturers of Department of Export

Agriculture, Ms. H.A.S.L. Jayasinghe, Ms. H.K.S.G.

GunadasaandMr.A.N.R.Weerawansha tookpart in

thiseventasresourcepersonnelrepresentingtheUva

WellassaUniversity.

AworkshoponBioSystemTechnologyforA/LStudentsinUvaProvince

Agricultural Education Committee of Uva Agriculture Development Forum conducted aworkshop on Bio System

TechnologyforAdvancedLevelstudentsinUvaprovinceonJune06,07,13,and14,2015atUvaWellassaUniversity

withthecollaborationofProvincialDepartmentofEducation,UvaProvince.Themainobjectiveofthisworkshopwasto

improvethetheoreticalandpracticalknowledgeofstudentswhoarefollowingthenewlyintroducedsubjectofBio

SystemTechnologyundertheTechnologyStreamofG.C.EAdvanceLevel.Theworkshopwasconductedunderthe

guidanceofDr.D.K.D.D.Jayasena,ConvenerfortheAgriculturalEducationCommitteeofUvaAgricultureDevelopment

Forum.Mr.A.N.R.WeerawanshaandMs.H.A.S.L.Jayasinghecoordinatedthisfour–dayworkshopservingascommittee

membersofAgriculturalEducationCommittee.>>>…..P.7

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TechnologicalContributionofUWUforEntrepreneursinBadullaDistrict

Theentrepreneurswhoneed technological assistance

for developing their ventures were called for an

awarenessprogrammeby the IndustrialDevelopment

Board(IDB)ofCeylon,BadullaonMay21,2015atHotel

Heritage,Badulla.Thepurposeofthisgatheringwasto

provide an inspiration to those investors giving all

supportiveknowledgeinselectedareas.Technological

potentialshadalsobeenidentifiedtobediscussedinthis

forumandIDBhadselectedUvaWellassaUniversityas

thepotentialinstituteforprovidingsuchinformationto

theentrepreneursinthisevent.

Dr. Saman Herath, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Animal

Science and Export Agriculture, attended the event

representingUvaWellassaUniversityandaddressedthe

gatheringunderthethemeof“TechnologicalAssistance

to be provided by Uva Wellassa University and New

Technology & Trends”. Dr. Herath presented the

gathering that the University can assist the

entrepreneurs of Badulla district under 17 aspects

coveringavarietyofscopeswiththesupportofallthree

Faculties.

Seventy five (75) selected entrepreneurs and/or

investorshavebeeninvitedforthisspecialdaycovering

all agriculture, industrial and services sectors. These

entrepreneursarerecognisedtobestillnewcomersto

thesectorandtherefore,theircontributiontothegross

domesticproduction(GDP)isexpectedtobeincreased

significantlythroughprovidingallbasicknowledgeand

skillsconsideringtherealneed.

Intheinauguration,Dr.GamaniChandrasena,ViceChancellorofUvaWellassaUniversity,welcomedthegatheringand

alsopresentedtheobjectivestohavesuchaworkshophavingconsideredthepresentneedoftheeducationsectorin

theUvaprovince.Mrs.B.C.Ellewela,AssistantDirectorofEducation(Agriculture),ProvincialDepartmentofEducation

ofUvaprovince,alsoaddressedthegatheringandstatedthatAgriculturalEducationCommitteeofUvaAgriculture

DevelopmentForumalwaystakesexceptionalcareinbuildinguprelationshipswiththeoutsidestudentcommunities

andtherefore,thissessionwasconsideredtobeoneofsuchactivitiesthatwascarriedoutaddressinganimportant

concernneededtobecommunicatedtimely.

Thestudentswereprovidedwiththetheoreticalandpracticalknowledgeonpackagingmaterialforfoodproducts,

maturityindicesofvegetablesandfruits,foodadulteration,preparationofharddoughbiscuits,sensoryevaluation,

poultrymeatprocessing,poultryeggproduction,waterqualityandpurification,dairyproduction,ornamentalaquatic

plantsandfishculturewithaidofdemonstrations,presentationsandotherrelevantmaterials.About400studentsand

20teachersattendedthisworkshopanditwashighlycommendedbyallparticipantsappreciatingtheaimofsharing

theknowledge,experienceandresourcesownedbytheacademiciansamongtheabovestudentssoastopromote

educationinthearea.Dr.D.K.D.D.Jayasena,Dr.E.D.N.S.Abeyrathne,Dr.W.A.J.P.Wijesinghe,Mr.N.P.P.Liyanage,Mrs.

A.M.N.L.Abesinghe,Ms.S.M.I.P.G.Bandara,Ms.A.G.A.W.Alakolanga,Ms.M.P.M.Arachchi,Mr.L.L.S.L.Jayasinghe,Mrs.

T.H.RanahewaandMr.P.Jayasinghe,attendedtheeventasresourcepersonnelfromtheFacultyofAnimalScienceand

ExportAgriculture.

AworkshoponBioSystemTechnologyforA/LStudentsinUvaProvince(Cont.)

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AboutUvaWellassaUniversity

Uva Wellassa University was established in the year 2005 as an

EntrepreneurialUniversityanditisdifferentfromtherestofthestate

universitiesby thedesign,whichprovidesEntrepreneurialEducation

with Essential Skills and Broad General Knowledge for all

undergraduatesintheircorecurricula.AlllecturersoftheUniversityare

aimedwiththreetaskstobeprogressedintheirservice,knowntobe

“ThreePillarsofService”;Teaching,ResearchandCorporateSocial

Responsibility (CSR), where the latter mainly focuses on the

developmentofUvaprovince.Ourthemeprovidesthenecessaryemphasis

that should pervade the systemwithin to

pursueavisionclearlygivingusadirection

onValueAdditiontotheNationalResource

Base. As such, all our degree programmes

deliverknowledgeandskillsrequiredbythe

employers in industry and commerce for

value addition. The university expects to

widenthehighereducationopportunitiesin

futuregivingprioritytotheareasthatcould

contributetotheeconomyofthecountry.

ContactSecretaryUvaAgricultureDevelopmentForumFacultyofAnimalScienceandExportAgricultureUvaWellassaUniversityPassaraRoad,Badulla,90000SriLankaTelephone:+94553566522|Fax:+94552226470Email:uadf@uwu.ac.lk

Copyright © by Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka

Howtoobtainmembership?Admissiontomembershipoftheforumismadeas:(a)Ordinary/lifemembers:personswhoareactivelyengagedin

agricultural activitiesor involved inactivities related to theadvancementofagriculture, inparticular, theUva

province;(b)Honorarymembers:personswhohaverendereddistinguishedservicetoagriculture;(c)Associate

members:personsinterestedinanyWorkingCommitteeoftheForumandwishtoattendtheAnnualSessionorjoin

in the other activities organised by the forum; (d) Student members: University students interested in Uva

agriculture.Ordinary/lifememberswillbeenrolledbytheExecutiveCommitteehavingevaluatedtherequested

informationwhereasthehonorarymembershipwillbeconferredbytheforumontherecommendationofthe

ExecutiveCommittee.Associate and studentmemberswill be admittedby theExecutiveCommitteebasedon

applicationsmade.

EditorialBoardDr.H.M.S.K.Herath

Dr.R.R.M.K.K.Wijesundera

Dr.(Mrs.)D.C.Mudannayake

EditorialAssistanceMr.A.N.R.Weerawansha

Mr.A.S.Mahaliyana

Mr.H.G.I.M.Wijesinghe