Launching the 'AgroBizz App' to sell farmers's products without middlemen

The Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project (CSIAP) introduces a software application called 'Agro Bizz' to around 70,000 farming families belonging to 47 agricultural service division areas affected by climate change in 11 districts located in 06 provinces, where the CSIAP is being implemented, to sell their agricultural products at a fair price by avoiding middlemen.

The absence of a market to sell agricultural products at a fair price by avoiding middlemen is a major problem faced by the farmers in the CSIAP area, and as a solution to this, the project expects to sell agricultural products through an online application called 'Agro Bizz'. When selling farm produce online, payments will also be credited to farmers' accounts via 'Agro Bizz'. A leading software company  'Celata Tech' has invented this 'Agro Bizz' application which can be downloaded onto Android smartphones.

In a discussion held between World Bank officials, CSIAP officials and 'Celata Tech' company officials, it has been agreed to provide this application for free to about 70,000 project beneficiary farmers. Accordingly, a series of training programmes for selected representatives from the 11 districts under the project area as trainers have been started. The CSIAP aims to popularize this application among the farmers by training and appointing the Agricultural Business and Marketing Relations Officers and agricultural Facilitators working in the Provincial Deputy Project Director Offices of the CSAIP and office bearers of  Producer Associations and Producer Societies as representatives.

Selected representatives from Hambantota, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee Batticaloa and Ampara have been trained and the 'Agro Bizz' application will be introduced to the farmers by those representatives. Farmers are able to enter the image of their products on this application and information such as the quantity of the products, the time when they can be offered for sale, and the prices expected by the farmers can also be mentioned on this application. Farmers' information, farm information, cultivation information and product information are entered into the 'Agro Bizz' application. The 'Celata Tech' company has already registered product buyers, processing agencies, freight forwarders, consultants, Banks and service providers on 'Agro Bizz' to support CSIAP farmers.

Introducing AgroBizz to sell agro-products online at a fair price by the CSIAP

 

A Climate Smart Agriculture Field Day in Kilinochchi & Mullaitivu by the CSIAP

 The Agricultural Field Day organized by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is more than a one-day event; it's a testament to the resilience and dedication of the agricultural community of the area where the CSIAP is being implemented. It is a highly useful event that serves as a nexus for education, innovation, community building, and economic development within the agricultural field of CSIAP farmers who play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture. It connects farmers with their cultivation skills and fosters a profound appreciation for the agricultural sector. Organizing such an event will be an excellent way to bring together farmers, agricultural professionals, and the broader community to share knowledge, showcase innovations, and promote sustainable farming practices.  

Mr. S.M. Saman Bandulasena, Chief Secretary, Northern Province along with Ms. S.Suganthini, Provincial Director (Agricultura), Agriculture Instructors of the respective areas,  Mr. Geroge Babu, Deputy Project Director (Northern Province) , Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this Agricultural Field Day, which is a journey of enlightenment and enrichment in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. All officials visited.     

• Thelikarai Village of Poonakary ASC division for Watermelon Field, Thelikarai Tank Rehabilitation, Groundnut Seed Poduction and Harvesting
• Udaiyarkattu village division for MICHY 1 Chilie Cultivation
• Jeyapuram of Mulankavil ASC for Groundnut Cultivation with Sprinkler Irrigation   
• Iyankan Kulam of Thunukai ASC division  for Crop Diversification in Paddy field
• Karuvelankandal of Oddusuddan ASC division for Parachute and mechanical transplanted paddy field 

This Field Day not only educates and inspires but also underscores the pivotal role that agriculture plays in sustaining our CSIAP farming community and preserving the cultivated land for generations to come. 

Contributions made to the Two-Day Workshop on Preparation of CMPs - Day 02

Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant of the Worl Bank, conducted the Second Day of the two-day workshop on preparing Cascade Management Plans (CMPs)held at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM), Athurugiriya. Mr. Samanatha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist and  Mr. Nalaka Attanayake, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project made participants aware of their subjects’ contribution to CMPs.  

Contributions made to the Two-Day Workshop on Preparation of CMPs - Day 01

The World Bank Officials, Deputy Project Directors and Subject Specialists made their contribution to preparing effective and meaningful Cascade Management Plans on the first day of the two-day workshop held at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM), Athurugiriya.

Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant, Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist and  Eng. S. Manoharan, Consultant of the Worl Bank lectured on selected topics such as preparing Cascade Management Plans (CMPs),  Why should the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) implement 11 pilot CMPs in 11 hotspot areas commencing from October 2023, and Importance of amalgamating the possible activities of the plan of Water Resources Management for sustainable cascade management. The objectives of the two-day workshop were pointed out by Mr. D. V. Bandulasena, Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist (ID&CBS) of the Project Management Unit (PMU).

 Representing six provincial Deputy Directors’ Office of the CSIAP Mr. Upali Rathnayake, ID&CBS, Deputy Project Director’s Office of the North Central Province, Mr. D. M .K. H. Dissanayake, ID&CBS, Deputy Project Director’s Office of the North Western Province, Mr. D. M. L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director of the  Uva Province, Mr. Arulappu George Chandra Babu, Deputy Project Director of the  Northern Province, Dr. R. M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director of the  Eastern Province and Mr. R.P. M. Dissananayeke, ID&CBS and Acting Deputy Project Director of the  Southern Province, commented on the progress of establishing the Cascade Management Committees (CMCs), developing CMPs and planning for facilitating the CMC to implement the CMP.

Mr. N. A. I. U. K. Nissanka, Water Management Specialist, Dr. Janaka Jayawardane -Environmental & Social Safeguard Specialist, Mr. Frank Jayasinghe, Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist and Mr. Christy Perera, Agri-Business & Market Development Linkage Specialist delivered lectures on how do their subjects incorporate into cascade management plans. Subject Specialists, Engineers and Officers of the CSIAP attended this workshop.

A Two-Day Workshop to prepare Cascade Management Plans begins at NIPM

A two-day workshop on preparing 06 pilot Cascade Management Plans (CMPs) commenced today (28^th) at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM), Athurugiriya with the participation of Deputy Project Directors and relevant Subject Specialists and Officers of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project. Commencing the workshop Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP made a speech on the role of the PMU in supporting CMPs. Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist, Eng. S. Manoharan, Consultant and Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant, Worl Bank will deliver lectors on selected topics. In addition to that Subject Specialists of the CSIAP will contribute their part to preparing CMPs here.

Recruitment of Staff for the PMU and Southern Province