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The Agricultural Extension Improvement Project in Gampaha

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The Agricultural Extension Improvement Project in Gampaha Sri Lanka The Agricultural India Extension Improvement Project in Gampaha Sri Lanka Gampaha District Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Maldives Project Site Gampaha District 1. Background of Project District. The Gampaha District, adjacent to the north of 3) Outputs Colombo, is the most commercialized district in Sri a) Crop production technology of intercropping in Lanka. However, 57 percent of the total land in the coconut fields is improved. district remains as agricultural land. Although the area is b) Agricultural extension methods are improved by dependent on the production of paddy and coconuts, organizing production groups and setting up which have traditionally been the major cash crops, the demonstration plots in the model areas. productivity of these crops is low, and few other c) Training materials on extension methods and agricultural products are produced in the district. crop production technology for extension staff Following this situation, the Japanese Government are developed. established the Ambepussa model farm and other facilities d) Technical level of extension staff is improved under the Grant Aid program of the Integrated Rural through training. Development Plan (IRDP) in the Gampaha District during 4) Inputs two program periods since 1989. Japanese Side The Government of Sri Lanka further requested Long-term experts 12 Project-type Technical Cooperation from the Japanese Short-term experts 12 Government aiming to increase agricultural productivity Trainees received 22 and farmers' income through diversification of crops as Equipment approx. 73 million yen part of the IRDP that the Sri Lankan Government Local cost approx. 29.19 million rupee promoted. (approx. 41 million yen) Sri Lankan Side 2. Project Overview Counterparts 15 (1) Period of Cooperation Land and facilities 1 July 1994-30 June 1999 Local cost 275 billion rupee (approx. 39 million yen) (2) Type of Cooperation Project-type Technical Cooperation 3. Members of Evaluation Team (3) Partner Country's Implementing Organization Team Leader: The Regional Development Division, Ministry of Masamichi SHINADA, Managing Director, Japan Plan Implementation and Paliamentary Affairs The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Promotion Department of Agriculture, Western Provincial Council Association Agriculture Extension and Training Management: (4) Narrative Summary Hiroshi TOTTORI, International Exchange Programs, 1) Overall Goal Extension and Education Division, Agricultural Agricultural productivity and farming income are Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry increased through agricultural diversification. and Fisheries 2) Project Purpose Cultivation (Water Management): Effective use of farmland and crop diversification Atsuya TANAKA, Educational Advisor, National are achieved in the coconut fields of the Gampaha Farmers Academy, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry 270 Chapter 3: Terminal Evaluation I Asia and Fisheries Evaluation Analysis: Shigeru KOBAYASHI, System Science Consultants INC. Cooperation Evaluation: Yutaka ISHIBA, Senior Technical Officer, Technical Cooperation Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Planning Evaluation: Naoko OKA, Agricultural Technical Cooperation Division, Agricultural Development Cooperation Department, JICA A model farm 4. Period of Evaluation 19 April 1999-29 April 1999 farm incomes and continuing the supply of food at affordable prices. The Government also started the Rural Economic Advancement Program aiming at raising 5. Results of Evaluation employment opportunities, income and production in (1) Efficiency agriculture. The relevance of the project was high since its In general, Japanese inputs were carried out purpose matched these national policies. efficiently and on schedule. On the other hand, inputs from the Sri Lankan side had some problems. Some (5) Sustainability project activities were hindered because more than half of Counterparts acquired various techniques which were the assigned Counterparts, particularly at senior level, transferred through project activities. The budget of were part-time staff. Also, the initiation of project approximately 1.14 million rupees (approx. 1.61 million activities was delayed due to the lack of consensus by the yen) for the half-year term beginning July 1999 was Sri Lankan Counterparts regarding bottom-up extension allocated by the Department of Agriculture of the Western methods. Province, under which the program is managed, after the completion of the cooperation. It was assumed that the (2) Effectiveness project activities would continue without any problems. Thirteen production groups of 126 farmers were organized through the project activities, and some inter- 6. Lessons Learned and Recommendations crops were introduced, such as banana and pineapple, which generated farm income. For example, the (1) Lessons Learned introduction of banana cultivation in trial farms raised Some factors hindered project implementation, such income by approximately ten thousand rupee per quarter as relocation of counterparts and unfamiliarity of the acre. Therefore, the project purpose was considered highly farmers to the group production method. Conditions such achieved. as these should be identified and addressed during the initial research for project formation. (3) Impact The formation of production groups, including the As a result of improved incomes through the project, management of group funds, which were organized an increasing number of farmers gained interest in through the project, was extremely successful. The introducing inter-crops and in organizing production introduction of a similar group production system should groups. Farmers who normally prefer to work individually be considered for other projects under the Project-type came to recognize the profitability of group activities, Technical Cooperation program in Sri Lanka. such as joint shipment of farm products, joint purchase of materials, and management of a group fund. In addition, (2) Recommendations women's production groups were organized thereby Although Follow-up cooperation and project promoting their own income generation. extension were not considered necessary, regular monitoring activities by Japanese personnel were thought (4) Relevance to be required. In particular, appropriate guidance, The Government of Sri Lanka prepared the including financial support for the production groups, is Investment Program 1997-2001, which set the major necessary for the management of the group funds. development policies in the agricultural sector, such as the improvement of agricultural productivity, the increase of 271 Sri Lanka The Project for India Improvement of the Faculty of Dental Sri Lanka Sciences in University of Kandy Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Peradeniya Maldives Project Site Kandy 1. Background of Project Dental personnel are developed sufficiently in Many people in Sri Lanka had serious dental terms of both quality and quantity in the faculty of problems, with 80 percent of the adult population (twice dental sciences of the University of Peradeniya, as many compared with developed countries) requiring and the services for the prevention and treatment medical treatment. However, the scarceness of proper of oral diseases are improved. treatment facilities was an obstacle to maintaining good 2) Project Purpose health. As a result, the Government of Sri Lanka set the A sound teaching environment for training and prevention of odontopathy and improvement of treatment developing personnel of the faculty of medical as emergency issues. But having stated these concerns, it sciences in the university is established. was difficult for the faculty of dental sciences of the 3) Outputs University of Peradeniya, the only dental training a) Main buildings of the faculty of dental sciences institution in Sri Lanka, to practice appropriate dental are established (including the buildings for education due to outdated educational facilities and a lack education and clinical course, an outpatient of instruments. Therefore, it was concluded that Sri Lanka clinic, and a cafeteria.) could not respond adequately to the needs of dentists and b) Educational equipment (clinical dental chairs, patients within the country. desktop sterilizer, dental instruments, and Under these circumstances, the Government of Sri microscope) is provided. Lanka formulated a plan and requested Grant Aid from 4) Inputs Japan in order to construct new buildings for the faculty Japanese Side of dental sciences and purchase the necessary medical Grant Total 2.36 billion yen education equipment. (E/N amount) Sri Lankan Side 2. Project Overview Land (1) Period of Cooperation Local cost 21 million rupee FY1995-FY1997 (approx. 13 million yen) (2) Type of Cooperation 3. Members of Evaluation Team Grant Aid Operation and Maintenance Study: (3) Partner Country's Implementing Organization Hiroshi TAKANOHASHI, First Budget Division, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Finance and Accounting Department, JICA University of Peradeniya Procurement Study: Toru TAKAGI, Japan International Cooperation (4) Narrative Summary System 1) Overall Goal 272 Chapter 3: Terminal Evaluation I Asia 4. Period of Evaluation (5) Sustainability 20 February 2000-26 February 2000 The faculty of dental sciences of the University of Peradeniya was financially restricted since their activities had been funded under the budget of the Ministry of 5. Results of Evaluation Health. However, it was expected that financial (1) Efficiency
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