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| IEC & ICT Specialist Mr. Mallawaarachchi explaining the CSIAP's Digitalization Strategy |
The The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) unveiled its Digitalisation Strategy aimed at strengthening farmer support services in climate hotspot areas. The strategy was presented at the Agri Tech Vendor Forum, organized by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), held yesterday (10th). The initiative focuses on establishing fully equipped ICT units within two Agrarian Service Centres (ASCs) located in Parangiyawadiya, Anuradhapura District, and Weerawila, Hambantota District, staffed with trained officials and modern equipment.
Pilot
Implementation in Two Hotspot Areas
As
a pilot intervention, the CSIAP plans to implement the Digitalisation Strategy
in two out of 47 ASCs, covering two identified hotspot areas during this year.
Based on lessons learned from the pilot phase, the project intends to gradually
expand the initiative to all ASCs across 11 hotspot areas during the CSIAP
implementation period. This phased approach aims to transform ASCs into effective
One-Stop Service Centres that deliver timely, technology-driven solutions to
farmers.
Enhancing
Farmer Access to Critical Information
The
Department of Agrarian Development, in collaboration with CSIAP, will implement
the ASC Digitalisation initiative to improve service delivery to farming
communities within the project command areas. Through this system, farmers will
gain access to critical and time-sensitive information, including weather
forecasts, crop production technologies, market prices, marketing
opportunities, disaster and early warning alerts, and other data essential for
safeguarding farm productivity and incomes.
Digital
Tools and Platforms at ASCs
Presenting
the implementation framework, Mr. Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT
Specialist of CSIAP, explained that the digitalized ASCs will be equipped with
a web-based communication system for market and weather information, emergency
alerts, e-governance data, and agriculture-related knowledge. In addition, an Online
Market Place (OMP) will enable farmers to sell agricultural products digitally.
The centres will also feature interactive digital smart boards, wireless
portable sound systems, desktop computers, and kiosk machines that allow users
to access services such as utility payments, loan repayments, credit card
transactions, and insurance services.
Multi-Stakeholder
Collaboration and Leadership
The
forum highlighted strong multi-stakeholder collaboration, with BMGF emphasizing
its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in developing Farmer Data Management
Systems and digital strategies to address climate change impacts. The
initiative will be driven by ICTA, which organized the forum in Colombo
alongside BMGF. Participants included Mr. Siddharth Chaturvedi representing
BMGF, senior private sector representatives, and ICTA officials led by Mr.
Oshada Senanayake, Chairman of ICTA, reflecting a shared commitment to
advancing digital agriculture in Sri Lanka. Please click Images to see more photos of this programme.
