From Sri Lanka

Hi, :) I am Mahinda Bandara Sakalasooriya, Chief Coordinator, International Linkages Unit, Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP), Sri Lanka. Collaboratively with institutes under the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in Sri Lanka, and several other international organizations, including the APAARI, The World Bank, I am trying to develop national agricultural research and extension systems mainly through the ICT and information dissemination techniques. I am mainly deal on the policy issues and formulate the national strategies on ICT on agriculture. Recently, I have prepared national information database and strategy paper / directory for organic agriculture in Sri Lanka. This has manly done with private sector stakeholders, to increase their partnership with central government. Similarly, I have compiled the strategy report on "Capacity Development of NARS, Sri Lanka, which has covered entire agriculture research & extension system in my country. According to the my experiences in NARS, ICT is a very good and cost-effective to drive the future agricultural systems in our part of the world, as Information Technology is the most rapidly developing area even in very remote places in countries. I am sincerely, acknowledge you to select Asia -pacific region for this important programme, I would give my best support for your forum.

Thanks for this, Mahinda. Could you please explain a little how you are dealing with the issue of appropriate content sourcing and development and which channels of dissemination (private sector, public sector) you are thinking of to reach the farmers? Moreover, can you share with us how you are envisaging the roles of ICT and private sector in the national strategies on ICT on agriculture? Perhaps you can also share with us some examples from Sri Lanka where the public and private sector have collaborated on linking ICT with agriculture. Thanks. Manish