eFarms
Description
eFarms is a project that attempts to provide technological solutions to problems faced by agricultural communities in rural Sri Lanka. A joint initiative involving TEAMS Private Limited, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Ministry of Technology & Research (MOTR), Sri Lanka and Megaskills Research, it will build capacities and enable informed decision making for the farmers. The scheme includes arranging of multi-lingual eLearning resources and reference materials for enterprise set-up, value addition, packaging and income generation; direct access to technology transfer agencies (like ITI) via video conferencing for troubleshooting; linking rural producers with direct markets through web databases thus providing supply chain efficiency; SMS alerts providing market prices and other information. Vidhata Resource Centres (VRCs) of the MOTR provide the supporting infrastructure & facilitation at community level.
What we deliver
For rural producers/entrepreneurs the project delivers: • Sinhala/Tamil eLearning content providing know-how/technology transfer for key value added products such as Rice Bread, Yoghurt, Rice snacks & cereals, Dehydration of fruits & vegetables, Ready to Serve Drinks, Fruit Cordials and Kithul products • Sinhala/Tamil Reference material content enabling additional transfer of know-how on products, business operation, supplier information and best practices • Content on buying companies (e.g. wholesalers, supermarkets, exporters etc) • SMS content on specific product orders and market prices • Video conference based technical support and troubleshooting services at scheduled dates/times via experts from technology transfer agencies such as ITI For extension support workers : • eLearning and reference material content for numerous value added products based on rural agriculture produce • web based database applications to enable linking of rural producers/entrepreneurs with buyer companies • Additional tools such as SMS alerts and video conferencing to better support rural producers/entrepreneurs For purchasing companies • Content on rural products from rural producers/entrepreneurs including details such as product types, location, volumes, specifications etc • SMS platform to enable rapid requests for specific product orders.
Why is the project unique?
The project is unique in terms of empowering poor rural agriculture communities to improve their technical capabilities, undertake informed decision making/planning & improve their income levels. More specifically the eFarms project is innovative in terms of: • Linking rural producers/entrepreneurs to markets and technology transfer agencies such as ITI through the integrated use of ICTs such as web information, databases, SMS applications and video conferencing • Improving the know-how and skills of rural producers/entrepreneurs for farm decision making, value addition, income generation and entrepreneurship through ICTs such as eLearning content, reference materials and other supporting tools • Improving the timeliness and relevance of services provided by technology transfer agencies (e.g. ITI) and extension support agencies (e.g. VRCs) through ICTs • A sustainable operation model involving technology transfer agencies (ITI), VRCs who provide community level facilitation/infrastructure, companies and the producers/entrepreneurs.
Roadmap
Vision: “A future where highly relevant digital content is available for and accessible by every single global citizen enabling a true information society”. Positive impact of ICT tools for development: • Greater empowerment of disadvantaged groups through bridging of information gaps, skills transfer and awareness and access to global markets • New models of operation brought about by efficiency and enabling factors of ICTs Transparency and accountability in development initiative
Contact
TEAMS (Pvt.) Limited (Main applicant) in association with Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) of S
Dr Channa Gunawardena
TEAMS (Pvt.) Limited, 35 Hospital Road
MAHARAGAMA, COLOMBO, Sri Lanka
URL/Website – www.efarms.lk
