Information Studies

Irangani Mudannayake ¹

Affiliations
1 Agriculture Library University of Peradeniya, LK

Abstract

The paper describes experiences of conducting an information programme for milk farmers in the Maskeliya plantation area, Sri Lanka by the Public Library, Maskeliya, with the primary goal of facilitating grass-ischolar_main level communities to access information. Information and data for the paper was collected from a mini survey of feed back of the participants and also from secondary sources.

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Irangani Mudannayake ¹

Affiliations
1 Institute of Agriculture, New Galaha Road. University of Peradcniva, LK

Abstract

This paper describes experiences of the Dambulla Public Library, Sri Lanka, in initiating an information programme for farmers to promote access information at local level. The intervention of public libraries to facilitate farmers with information was an outcome of an information programme conducted by the AGRINET (Agriculture Information Network of Sri Lanka) in the dry zone agriculture area in 2006. Focuses on the challenges of public libraries in making the farming communities aware of the importance of accessing reliable information to solve their agrarian problems and improve productivity. The dominant role played by agriculture in the livelihoods of rural population in Sri Lanka is discussed. The agriculture information is largely generated by research in agriculture. The transfer of agriculture information to the grass-ischolar_main levels takes place through agriculture extension services. The Department of Agriculture dominates in the provision of agriculture information to small-scale farmers using farmers focused publications, mass media, and lately the ' toll-free telephone' services and the 'cyber extension'. Sri Lanka has about 1200 public libraries including community information centres and mobile libraries located in all parts of the country. The Dambulla Public Library was selected for the initial farmer information programme because of it's location in the dry zone agriculture area close to the national economic hub of marketing of agriculture produce. The objectives of the information programme to create a platform for the farming communities to access information, to conduct regular information dialogues, discussions; to empower farmers to articulate their information needs, use information for decision making; promote use of digital information; facilitate indigenous knowledge to scale up. The farmer information programme was initiated by the Dambulla Public Library, collaborating with a number of agricultural institutes and the AGRINET. The information initiative included with presentations. display of farmer focused, publications and posters, CD-ROM demonstrations, distribution of a information package etc. The feed back proved that the programme was very useful and regular programmes to be held at the same venue. The main problems of the farmer'; of that area were disease and pests outbreaks, water problems, selection of suitable pesticides, fertilizer prices etc. The challenges of public librarians in the provision of information to farmers were identified as building up the credibility in terms of skills in ICT, translations etc.; building up links with public and private agriculture institutes through professional lobbying etc. The main constraints were infrastructure. funding, trained staff etc.

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