Ruhuna moves to ICT in agribusiness
by Dr. Mangala De Zoysa,
Head, Department of Agricultural Economics University of Ruhuna
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna has become a centre in
agricultural development of the whole Southern Province, a prominent
agricultural area in Sri Lanka.
The Department of Agricultural Economics that would shortly be named
as Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Management of the
Faculty of Agriculture is responsible for the curriculum development,
teaching, research and outreach programs related to Agribusiness
Management and Agricultural Extension.
Although agriculture generally kept up with scientific progress in
the past, the pace of change is much faster today, requiring continual
updating of curricula. Agricultural curricula need to be incorporated
the new role of market-oriented agriculture for sustainable agricultural
development.
Scientific knowledge in Agribusiness Management is changing very
quickly as modern ICT facilitate the sharing of information among
scientists and other stakeholders.
Hence, the department attempts to produce competent agricultural
professionals through developing Agribusiness Management curriculum
incorporate with ICT and designing outreach programs at the Department
of Agricultural Economics to bridge the information gap between the
agricultural entrepreneurs and other stakeholders making agriculture
more productive, profitable and sustainable.
A partnership link program has been firmly established between the
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ruhuna and the
Department of Business Management, Writtle College, Chelmsford, UK with
the kind assistance and generous funding by The British Council of Sri
Lanka.
Under the link program, Dr. Mangala De Zoysa, the Head together with
Dr. L. M. Abewickrama, a Senior Lecturer of the department are planning
to visit the UK on 17th February 2006, for two-week period to observe
and understand the existing course in ICT in Agribusiness Management and
related outreach programs at the Writtle College.
Moreover, Dr. D. J. Girdler, Head of Business Management together
with Mrs. J. M. Boone, Principal Lecturer in Marketing and Supply Chain
Management Writtle College are planning to visit the Department of
Agricultural Economics, University of Ruhuna on March 3, 2006 for two
weeks period to finalize the course modules and teaching programs and
design an outreach program.
Institutional relations
The introduction of ICT in Agribusiness Management as part of the
undergraduate curriculum in the department through the Link-Program
merits consideration. Further, an advanced curriculum in ICT in
Agribusiness Management could be introduced to the M.Sc. courses, which
the department is planning to commence from the beginning of this year.
This will be an inter-disciplinary systems approach through ICT in
agribusiness management to agricultural education. The students will get
opportunities not only to specialise in specific technical
subject-matter, but also help them to think holistically, or in terms of
integrated agricultural systems, so that they can understand the
multi-dimensional nature of sustainable agricultural development.
They will gain knowledge, change attitude and develop skills in ICT
in agribusiness through the developed curriculum and teaching that will
allow them to continue to learn and develop their competencies
throughout their professional lives.
Further, the course will prepare students as agricultural scientists
who can effectively communicate with diverse agribusiness groups as well
as support these groups in a process of collaborative problem-solving.
At present, the institutional relationships between agricultural
education and outreach services are inadequate and functional mechanisms
are weak in Sri Lanka to link them together to solve problems in
Agribusiness management.
It is clear that education of ICT in Agribusiness by the staff and
trained graduates at the department through the Link-Program will play
an important role in preparing farmers, researchers, educators,
extension staff, members of agri-businesses and others to make
productive contributions for promotion of agricultural enterprises.
The Link-Program will explore the possible modes to establish working
linkages between universities. R & D institutions and the agribusiness
sectors through ICT. Institutional relationships and functional
mechanisms between the Department of Agricultural Economics and
educators, researchers, extension staff, members of agri-businesses,
farmers etc., will be designed to link them together through ICT and
prepare outreach programs to solve problems in Agribusiness management.
The involvement of the department with other agricultural
institutions in extension and community outreach is expected to be
promoted by improving ICT facilities through the proposed Asia Pro Eco
IIB (Post Tsunami) program also with the assistance of the British
Council, Sri Lanka.
The advances in ICT in Agribusiness Management at the department
through the proposed program and continuation of the Link-Program will
make possible new modes of collaboration and cooperation between the
Department of Agricultural Economics and institutions of agricultural
education in Sri Lanka and the UK.
The department manages the "Centre for Agricultural Information and
Technology Transfer" which was established in 2000 with great
difficulties without a qualified staff member, funds and required
facilities.
Hence, with the assistance of the Asia Pro Eco IIB (Post Tsunami)
program and continuation of the Link-program, the centre would be
reactivated. |