Implications of Interventions: Sri Lankan Experience on Lifelong Learning for Farmers

Abstract

Understanding the above facts the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. implemented a Lifelong Learning for Farmers (L3F) programme,- Grow more mushroom to enhance food security in the southern province of Sri Lanka. The commonwealth of Learning (COL) supported the programme since 2008, first on a pilot scale, and second as a medium term programme. As the mushroom cultivation is an alternative income generating enterprise, programme focused on the mushroom farmers in the, area. The Ekamuthu mushroom growers society has become the major target group. The main objective of this intervention is to uplift the living standards of the mushroom cultivators through integrating relevant production inputs, and facilitating institutional arrangements and stakeholders of the value chain. The Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension is functioning as the focal point for the programme which coordinates expert human resources of the Faculty of Agriculture. Further, it integrates relevant facilities and services towards the programme. In order to disseminate technologies among other extension techniques, Open and Distance Leaning (ODL) mode is being used. Further, it is intended to step into a new intervention,- Knowledge dissemination on distance learning mode using mobile phones, with the collaboration of one of the leading mobile phone companies, Mobitel Ltd. The aim of this paper is to explain the major activities geared to uplift the living standards of the mushroom farmers in Kamburupitiya area, and highlight the major outcomes.