Abstract
The paper discusses findings of a survey conducted at the Department of Agriculture to find out how agriculture information is generated and disseminated to the end users. The objectives of the study are to find out the type of research conducted at Horticultural Research and Development Institute ( HORDI), Field Crops Research and Development Institute (FCRDI) and Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) of the DOA, to find out whether the agricultural research conducted at DOA is relevant in addressing farmer’s problems, to find out the main methods used for disseminating new agricultural information to scientific community and farmers and to find out barriers for effective information dissemination to farmers. The data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. The total population taken for the study was 74. The analysis was carried out by taking the entire population together and separately by individual institutions. The survey revealed that the researchers in three research institutes of the DOA are regularly engaged in research focusing on local agrarian problems. The main research areas of the researchers were plant breeding, soil and water resource management, and agronomy and crop science. The research conducted by three research institutes of the DOA are hundred percent (100%) relevant to issues encountered in the agriculture sector of the country. Majority of researchers use, seminars/conferences as the main methods for dissemination information to scientific community. Majority of researchers (34%) at HORDI. thirty one percent of researchers (31%) at RRDI and thirty percent of researchers (30%) at FCRDI send their research output to the extension division in the DOA. According to the data, lack of extension staff has been identified as a main problem for effective transfer of research output to the end users timely, by fifty percent of researchers (50%) at FCRDI, forty two percent of researchers (42%) at HORDI and forty percent (40%) of researchers at RRDI respectively. The weak research/extension linkage has been identified as a barrier by twenty five percent (25%) of researchers both at HORDI and FCRDI and twenty percent of researchers (20%) at RRDI.Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka, Vol. 18, Issue 1, January 2014, Page 72-86
Highlights
Agriculture research plays a significant role in uplifting agricultural production and adding quality of life for farming communities in agro-based economies
Three important research institutes, namely the HORDI, located in Gannoruwa, the Research and Development Institute (RRDI) located in Batalegoda, and the Field Crops Research and Development Institute (FCRDI) in Mahailluppalama were included for the present study due to the time limitations
The data revealed that the majority of researchers in the three research institutes have engaged in research on plant breeding which includes high yielding crop varieties, production of quality seeds etc. which is essential to upgrade the agricultural production in the country (Figure 1)
Summary
Agriculture research plays a significant role in uplifting agricultural production and adding quality of life for farming communities in agro-based economies. According to Bernaoui,Hassoun and Issolah (2013), agricultural research is primarily a scientific activity It has a special role in the development of the productive sector, while promoting agriculture and the financial return. The non plantation sector basically provides food crops for the domestic market in the country which includes production of rice, and coarse grains, grain legumes, oil crops, fruits and vegetable. The Department of Agriculture (DOA) is one of the oldest research institutes, established in 1912, and has the largest mandate of research and extension personnel and primarily geared for the development of the domestic food crop sector. Three important research institutes, namely the HORDI, located in Gannoruwa, the RRDI located in Batalegoda, and the FCRDI in Mahailluppalama were included for the present study due to the time limitations. The FCRDI is entrusted to undertake research related to other field crops such as chilli, coarse grains, onions etc.(Dept.of Agriculture,2009)
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