A special discussion about the modernization
of Agrarian Sevice Centers (ASCs) in the
CSIAP command area was held between top officials of the Department of Agrarian
Development (DAD) and the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)
was held at DAD Head Office Colombo Yesterday
(08th).
Under
the modernization, the CSIAP is involved in developing the ASC as a One-Stop
Service Centre, which provides modern services to the farmers to become
resilient to the changing climate situation and thereby to overcome the issues
hinder their productivity. The major interventions are;
·
Renovating, expanding and refurbishing
existing 47 office buildings of the ASCs within areas of the CSIAP to function
as an attractive and productive One-stop Service Centers. The
estimated of the above civil work is Rs.
336.18 M.
·
Establishing full pledged ICT unit
within each of the 47 ASC with trained officials and the necessary equipment to
provide required data related to weather forecast, market, new technology for
farmers under digitalization of ASC. The
estimated total cost of this to pilot in 02 ASCs (Parangiyawadiya of
Anuradhapura District and Weerawila of Hambantota District) out of 47 ASCs is Rs
8,159,333.00. The CSIAP will contribute Rs: 6.68M. while the DAD will
provide Rs 1,47M. It is expected to extend the implementation of this
in rest of the 45 ASCs in the next year
·
Establishing a Farm Machinery Hub (FMU)
in each of the 47 ASC managed by the Agrarian Development Committee (ADC) of
the ASC to prevent exploitation of farmers from the middlemen and also to
provide an opportunity for the Agrarian Committee to develop the Agrarian Fund.The total estimated cost of this to pilot in 02 ASCs (Parangiyawadiya of
Anuradhapura District and Weerawila of Hambantota District) out of 47 ASCs is approximately
Rs 240M. It is expected to extend the implementation of this in rest of the 45
ASCs in the next year.
Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Acting Project Director
and Provincial Deputy Project Directors, CSIAP, Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathna,
Commissioner General and senior officials, DAD were present in this discussion.