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The “Permanent Crop Clinic Programme” in Sri Lanka: making use of data to resolve crop health problems

Published: January, 2016

External publication

A. N Abeykoon, Katherine Cameron, M. U. P Jayasundara, Y. M. C. K Herath

“Permanent Crop Clinic” (PCC) concept has been introduced to Sri Lanka in 2009 as a pilot project in selected districts. With promising results, Department of Agriculture decided to expand the programme throughout the island from 2012 onwards. The main objective of the PCC is to provide beer advice on pest management to farmers when their crops are ill, especially focusing on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. PCC are conducted by Plant Doctors (Agriculture Instructors) at permanent places, and the date and me of the clinic will be informed to farmers through posters, SMS, and at farmer organization meetings. At the PCC, the plant doctor makes a diagnosis and observing a sample brought by farmers and the farmer will receive a written prescription. A copy of the prescription is sent to the plant protection service of DOA and data management staff upload its content onto the Plantwise online data management system (POMS) to develop a database from which researchers, extensionists and policy makers can draw information on the crop pest situation in Sri Lanka. The data also allow programme managers to monitor activities and identify training needs, so that plant doctors can increase their knowledge and the quality of diagnoses and advice can be improved in future.

The “Permanent Crop Clinic Programme” in Sri Lanka: making use of data to resolve crop health problems

Type External publication

Published in Poster presented at the Annual Symposium of Department of Agriculture 2016, Sri Lanka

Language English

Year 2016