Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012.pdf

Technological advancements and transfer of
technology
Acquiring and adapting technology to local conditions can
produce transformational changes if the process is robust
enough to push productivity forward and strengthen
international competitiveness. This requires sustained
investment, an appropriate business environment, and
capacities for research and technology customization.
In Sri Lanka, gaps in technological advancements and
technology transfer are particularly acute in agriculture,
where investments in research and extension services
have been inadequate, limiting opportunities to improve
yields. Even in major irrigation areas, rice yields are lower
than could be expected. 270 The outputs of agricultural
food crops have been stagnating for over 20 years, and
are comparatively low by developing country standards,
except for rice. The investment in agricultural research
that powered Sri Lanka’s Green Revolution starting in the
1970s dropped in 1977. 271 Since 1981, expenditure on
agricultural research and extension has been less than 0.05
percent of agricultural GDP. 272
According to the World Bank, weak agricultural extension
services pose a major challenge to productivity. 273 While
knowledge of new technologies is an important factor
influencing productivity, 274 extension services provide a
bridge ensuring that this reaches farmers and is adapted
appropriately.
Sri Lankans on average can reach an agrarian service centre
in about 36 minutes. It takes between 43 and 48 minutes
for people in the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Badulla,
Ratnapura, Kegalle and Moneragala. In Jaffna, Matale
and Batticaloa, services are accessible in 27 to 28 minutes
(Table A26). Landless and marginal farmers have the least
access to these services. 275
Accessibility is, however, only one issue. A number of
structural problems hinder the system, including the high
number of organizations involved, which have different
mandates and approaches. 276 The government extension
service is the largest and of central importance to small-scale
farmers. Some private sector companies provide advisory
services as well. After the devolution of the agricultural
and livestock extension service from central to provincial
ministries around 1995, there was little coordination
among them. Links between research and extension
services weakened, as the research component is the
responsibility of the central Government, while provincial
councils are more responsible for the services. 277 At the
same time, the restructuring of provincial departments
and the involvement of field offices in administrative
work reduced interactions between extension workers and
farmers.
Other factors affecting the adaptation of technology by
farmers are illustrated by rice cultivation. Though the use
of improved varieties is high, poor quality seeds result
in low yields. A lack of capital, the non-availability of
certified seeds in required quantities at the appropriate
time, and lack of awareness of the importance of seed
quality contribute to the problem. Additional barriers to
innovation include socioeconomic conditions, high risks
of crop failure through dependence on rain and smallscale
irrigation systems, subsistence farming and nonavailability
of agricultural inputs. 278
Work to beef up extension services is being complemented
by experiments such as the cyber-extension service of the
Department of Agriculture. It uses electronic media for
disseminating information to extension agents and farmers,
and encourages farmers to use interactive CDs, email
and Internet facilities to access new knowledge. Farmers
can communicate with the Department to obtain advice
and assistance in solving farming problems. Plans call for
establishing 220 cyber-extension units. While 49 have
been set up so far, only a few have Internet connections.
Use is low because of poor Internet connectivity, the
limited technology skills of extension agents and farmers,
and a lack of awareness about availability.
The Department has also been active in establishing a tollfree
line for agricultural advice, and using television and
community radio broadcasts to disseminate information
to rural areas. 279 The Vidatha programme targets small
and medium-sized farm enterprises. It seeks to identify
community resources and needs, and bring these to the
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sri lanka Human Development report 2012