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Ruhuna moves to ICT in agribusiness

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.

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