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Agro Tech online courses for farmers
View(s):Online courses for the farming community have been introduced by the Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Sciences of Weligatta, Hambantota.
The programme that teaches the farmers Agro Technology in four levels which are Certificate Course Level, Diploma, Higher Diploma and Degree Levels is provided to farmers interested in pursuing the subject for their advancement.
“The lack of updated knowledge, information and technology has caused many farmers to suffer harvest loss. This programme gives them the opportunity to learn more and address the shortcomings,” Programme Coordinator, Sansala Widaranapathirana told Education Times.
Currently, there are about 5,000 farmers involved in programmes provided by the institute. Ms Widaranapathirana said that the institute has successfully ended four batches, while the fifth is to start next month.
“Earlier, the farmers had no idea about computing, but now, they are computer literate. We also introduced an orientation programme for Information Technology to the farmers, before starting the course, to which the farmers adapted well,” Ms Widaranapathirana said. She added that, now the farmers are using the internet to explore new methods of farming which has increased their harvest and income. She said that most farmers show great interest in the course because it is in Sinhala.
The Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Sciences which comes under the University of Colombo, first as a center in 1998 and in 2008, has developed into an institute where over 15,000 tissue cultured banana plants are provided to the farming community. In addition to that, the institute’s laboratories are maintained by village girls interested in using new technology to develop their livelihoods.
The institute is now striving to be the pioneer of virtual education with regard to entrepreneurship and technology in Sri Lanka.
(AW)
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