 | Around 150 farmer field schools and 180 follow-up activities
were conducted during the Yala season 2001. The number of field
activities is expected the increase further during the Maha season 2001/02, because of an increasing number of master trainers and because an increasing number of farmer-led field schools. |
| The fifth season-long TOT is being implemented during the Yala season 2001 for staff from the Provinces, Inter-Provincial areas, the NGO Sarvodaya and two local NGOs. A total of 167 master trainers from the Department of Agriculture, Mahaweli Authority and NGOs have now been trained. |
| The number of Farmer Trainers (i.e. farmers who have become trainers) is currently more than 300, and will increase further during 2001. |
| The Mahaweli Authority is
substantially increasing its Master Trainers and expanding its IPM activities in 5 major irrigation systems |
| IPM Farmer Associations in several districts have started to produce and market pesticide free rice and seed paddy. |
| In March 2001, the Australian High Commision in Colombo approved an 18-month project to support the Community IPM programmes in Southern, Northwestern and Northcentral Provinces. |
General
Developments: The farmer field school educational programme is in high demand among Sri Lankan rice farmers, prompting an increased interest in rice cultivation, especially among the younger generation. Frequently, the farmer field school causes farmers to work closer together or to embark on follow-up activities in their communities.
The programme responded to these needs by providing several types of follow-up educational activities for IPM farmers: Through Participatory
Planning (see picture above), farmers learn to analyse the problems in their farming communities and design actions to deal with those problems. Through Farmers Studies, farmers learn to develop and implement their own field experiments on selected issues. Moreover, Farmer Congresses and Cross Visits enable the IPM Clubs for an entire district to share their experiences and plan future activities together. Lastly, Farmer Training-of Trainers enable selected IPM farmers to become trainers and conduct their own farmer field schools.
There have been noteworthy increases in crop yield and decreases in the use of insecticides after farmer field school training in Sri Lanka. In particular, in marginal areas there appears to be a large potential, not just to save on pesticide inputs, but to increase yield of rice through improved agronomic methods. The benefits derived ranged from Rs 3,200 (=47 USD) (Kolonne) to Rs 16,000 (= 235 USD) (Paluwewa) per acre (= 0.4 ha), while the average increase in profits was approximately Rs.7000/- (103 USD) per acre.
Organisation:
The National IPM Programme is coordinated by the Department of Agriculture, with technical assistance and financial support from the FAO. The programme's field training activities are implemented by the Provincial Directors of Agriculture in eight Provinces. In addition, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, which governs the major
rice irrigation systems responsible for 17% to national rice production, is an important partner, committing a large number of Field Assistants as master trainers to the programme's field activities. Other partners of the National IPM Programme are the national NGO Sarvodaya, the NGO Gemi Seva
Sevana, and several district level NGOs.
Contact
People:
Government:
S. Weerasena
Director, Seed Certification & Plant Protection
Department of Agriculture
(94-8) 388077
L. Amarasinghe
Deputy Director, Plant Protection
Department of Agriculture
(94-8) 388316
G.W. Liyanage
Director, Agricultural Development
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka
Tel.: (94-1) 691 164
Fax: (94-1) 868 986
E-mail palikalu@slt.lk
A. Bedgar Perera
Director, Agricultural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
FAO:
Henk van den Berg
IPM Scientific Officer & Coordinator for South Asia
FAO IPM Project
Tel.: (94-74) 476 155
Fax: (94-74) 476 155
E-mail: hvdberg@sltnet.lk
Hector Senerath
National Expert
FAO IPM Project
Tel.: (94-74) 476 155
Fax: (94-74) 476 155
