Opportunities and facilities provided by modern electronic devices and other such technology such as the computer will be used to their full potential. They will be used in the following areas:
1. Updates to the web of Day to day Dambulla/Anuradhapura/Manning Market prices
2. Database for the farmers
3. Database for the suppliers
4. Useful web links
5. Garden/Farm design using 3-D software
6. Direct communication with the wholesale buyers
7. Communication with similar projects in the world
8. Showing the farmers good movies, lessons about farming with a multimedia projector
Focus of Interest
The focus of primary interest of the project is farm produce. The categories listed below are examples of items that can be produced and marketed:
Vegetables (tibbatu, thalana batu, brinjal, green pepper, sweet pepper, beet, knol khol, pumpkin, kekiri, bitter gourd, snake gourd, weta kolu, ash plantain, gherkin, cucumber, etc.)
Greens (mukunuwenna, kathurumurunga, thampala, gotu kola, sarana, anguna kola etc.)
Fruits (papaya, mango, wood apple, beli, banana etc.)
Pulses (cow pea, mung bean, soya etc.)
Yams (sweet potato, manioc, gahala etc.)
Honey (bee honey, coconut treacle etc.)
Nuts (cashew, peanut)
Coconuts
Spices (dried chilly, pepper)
Value added products (powdered spices, chilly powder etc.)
Snacks (Roasted cashew, peanuts)
Rice
Canned products (lime pickle, jam)
Education and Incentive Schemes
Following the completion of the initial training programs that are essential to launch the scheme, the farmers will have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of further education activities. These would include:
1. On-site seminars conducted by invited experts;
2. Field trips to established agriculture training centres (E.g. Gannoruwa, Kundasale, Mahailluppallama, etc.);
3. Establishing links with students of the Faculties of Agriculture of University of Peradeniya and University of Ruhuna, and at reputed government agriculture field officer training institutions;
4. Instituting a Best Farmer Reward program;
5. Offering discounts to membership holders (for seeds, renting equipment etc.)
6. Gradually shifting farming methods to organic farming;
7. Establishing a scholarship program using operating profit.
