Horizon Lanka E-farmers web site

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Application of ICT

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.

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Financing Plan

The project expects individuals or funding organizations to finance the project initially. The benefactors are expected to sponsor a farmer or a group of farmers to improve the basic infrastructure for the potential farmers. The identified basic needs are farming wells, water pumps, pipes and fences around the farming lands. Farmers own their own land in the village but a proper fence is needed in most cases.

Once the project is well established, in the long run, the project expects to provide farmers loans at minimal interest, which will be much lower than rates levied by the established financial institutions. The farmers will be bound by the terms of grant and the articles of the project to settle the loans on collection of harvest.

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Benefits to Community

The members of the public will have access to a wide range of fresh farm produce and appropriately preserved food items. During the promotional phases of marketing, the effort taken in making the products consumer-friendly will be highlighted.

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Management

e-Farmers Project will be managed by a team of volunteers appointed by Horizon Lanka Foundation under the terms that authorize it to engage in activities deemed desirable for the up lift men of the rural communities in Sir Lanka.

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About Us

Horizon Lanka e-Farmers Project is a subsidiary of Horizon Lanka Foundation of Mahavilachchiya. Advancing IT skills is a major objective of Horizon Lanka Foundation. We started the Horizon Lanka in Mahavilachchiya in 1998, and it saw the birth of a revolution in ICT education in Sri Lanka. Rural school children in the primary grades or in their early teens have mastered computer skills and are proficient in web design, graphics, presentation
and computer maintenance today.

Mahavilachchiya is a rural agricultural community, and we have successfully promoted a shift in mindset of the rural farmer towards embracing the opportunities opened up by the advances in ICT. E-Farmers is our newest venture that harnesses modern technology to benefit the rural villager.

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