1.0 Introduction
Lack of skilled and knowledgeable extension workers
to play the role of a catalyst in the agricultural development process in the
rural areas is one of the main problems for agricultural development in Sri
Lanka. It is essential of transferring new agricultural know how to rural farmers
to accelerate the agricultural production. However, during the past decades
it has been understood that, new agricultural technology transfer is only one
of the variables for the enhancement of agricultural production of rural farmers.
In other words, there are a number of factors contribute for the agricultural
development process of the rural areas.
An agricultural extension worker having the capacity of technology transferring
on time is essential. Similarly, he or she should have the capacity of coordinating
the other services such as input supply, credits, marketing, farmer training
etc. In other words, rural agricultural extension worker should not only be
an extension agent but he should play the role of a catalyst of agricultural
development process. Therefore, it is a must that developing such officers having
positive attitude towards farming through agricultural training. In this regards,
we have to train extension officers of the state sector, Non Government Organizations
(NGO) involved in agricultural enterprises as well as school dropouts.
In nineteen seventies, such a training was offered by the Department of Agriculture
(DOA) through Practical Farm School and it was terminated in 1980.
This year (2005), One Year Agriculture Training Course was introduced in eight
training centres of DOA with the objective of producing efficient agricultural
extension workers having the capacity of working as catalyst in the agriculture
development process in rural farming communities. Human resources, physical
facilities of these training centres as well as the curriculum developed for
this course has been fulfilled all the requirements for registering in the Tertiary
and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) of Sri Lanka.
1.1 Our Vision:
To be achieving excellence in vocational agricultural
training for National Prosperity.
1.2 Mission Statement:
To provide vocational agricultural training to farming
interested youths and service personals through conducting selected job oriented
agricultural training for human resource development in agricultural sector
for sustainable agricultural development.
1.3 Course Objective:
Enhancement of selected trainees' agriculture knowledge,
skill and building of their capacity to work as efficient rural level extension
workers who can help farmers to increase their production. In other words, producing
rural level agricultural extension workers to act as catalysts of agricultural
and economic development process.
1.4 Program Instruction & Supervision:
S.H.M.G. Samarasinghe, Director ( Extension & Training)
Extension & Training Division, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri
Lanka.
Tel: 94 081 2388331, Fax: 94 081 2388098
E mail: extr@ids.lk
1.5 Program Design & Coordination:
M.A.Ariyasinghe, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Special
Training)
Extension & Training Division, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri
Lanka.
Tel: 94 081 2 388341, 94 081 2218648
Fax : 94 081 2387 403 E mail: extr@ids.lk OR maariyasin@yahoo.com
1.6 Curriculum Development committee:
1.7 Institutes offered One Year Practical Agriculture Training
1.8 Contacts for more information
M.A.Ariyasinghe, Assistant Director of Agriculture
Extension & Training Division, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri
Lanka.
Tel: 94 081 2 388341, 94 081 2218648
Fax : 94 081 2387 403 E mail: extr@ids.lk OR maariyasin@yahoo.com
OR
2.0 Entry Requirement for the
training
Priority is given for the officers in the state sector
engaged in agricultural extension. If the number is not available for a particular
year, officers from Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) and school dropouts
are considered for training.
Six subjects pass in G.C.E. (Ordinary Level ) Examination including at least Credit pass
for Language (Sinhalese or Tamil) and Mathematics.
Age: Less than 40 years.
Direct recruitments:
Educational qualification:
Six subjects pass in G.C.E. (Ordinary Level ) Examination including at least Credit pass
for Language (Sinhalese or Tamil) and Mathematics.
Age : 18 - 25 years
3.0 Training process
These are four stages for this one-year training course.
Duration of each stage is three months.
Stages I & III
Training is provided at the training centre through
a well-developed curriculum and syllabi, Lectures, field practices, group discussion,
tutorial and educational tours etc. included to stage I & III.
Stages II & IV
In the stage II & IV, trainees are given opportunities
to practice the knowledge and skill gained at the stage I & III. They are
attached to selected external agricultural extension offices to work with farming
communities through the completion of assignments. During these periods, trainees
can exchange their knowledge, skill and experience with farmers. In addition,
they can involve in agricultural extension programme in the area under the guidance
of well qualified extension officers.
4.0 Syllabus
This training course has designed with the objective
of building the agricultural extension capacity of trainees, who are working
in rural areas with farmers. During the period, trainees have opportunities
to work with farming communities. So that, they can get real world experiences
which help them to improve their abilities of working with farmers as extension
workers as well as the catalysts of agricultural development process of farming
communities.
Ten subjects include to the curriculum. In each subject, high priority is given
for skill development through field practical. Time allocation for practical
is about 70% and for knowledge base training such as classroom lectures is about
30%. Trainees are given opportunity to practice their knowledge and skill gained
from each subject with farmers for developing their professional capabilities.
| Subject 1: | Agricultural Principles | |
| - Agro climatology and agro-climatic zones of Sri Lanka. - Soil and Soil fertility. - Plant Nutrients and Fertilizer. - Soil erosion, Soil and water conservation. - Cropping systems and Cropping patterns. - Pest and Pest control. |
||
| Subject 2: | Paddy Production. | |
| Subject 3: | Other Field Crop Production. | |
| Subject 4: | Vegetable Production. | |
| Subject 5: | Fruit Production. | |
| Subject 6: | Irrigation and Water Management. | |
| Subject 7: | Animal Production. | |
| Subject 8: | Farm Machinery. | |
| Subject 9: | Agricultural Extension and Communication. | |
| Subject 10: | Special Subject. | |
4.1 Time allocation for training:
| Subject | Knowledge baseTraining (Lectures)hours | Skill base Training (Practical)hours |
| At the training centre |
||
| 1. Agricultural Principles | 41 | 25 |
| 2. Paddy Production | 31 | 42 |
| 3. Other Field Crop Production | 26 | 52 |
| 4. Vegetable Production | 66 | 146 |
| 5. Fruit Production | 37 | 41 |
| 6. Irrigation & Water management | 12 | 09 |
| 7. Animal Production | 21 | 31 |
| 8. Farm Machinery | 19 | 46 |
| 9. Agricultural Extension & Communication | 77 | -- |
| 10. Special Subject | 30 | 40 |
| Assignments in Farming Communities(Directed supervised training) | ||
| 120 days @ 05 hours per day | -- | 600 |
| Total | 360 | 1032 |
| Percentage | 26 % | 74 % |
5.0 Training Management
A Training Management Committee (TMC) has been appointed
for each training centre. The TMC comprise officers from the training centre
and from outside institutions and organizations. So that, most appropriate training
contents to subject area are being decided. On the other hand, the TMC can make
more correct decisions on course designing, timetable and training calendar
for academic year etc.
5.1 Members of TMC
5.2 Responsibilities of TMC
The training centres have been established in different district. Crops as well as livestock of one district or a province is somewhat different from that of another district or a province. The trainees are come from those districts. So that training needs of one centre may be different from another centre. Therefore, content of one particular subject may be slightly different from the same subject of another training centre. However basic agricultural principles taught in all the centres are same.
6.0 Training Staff
I. In training centre (stage I & III)
Officers from Sri Lanka Agriculture Service and Technical Service handle the
training in the training centres.
II. External training -Assignments (Stage II& IV)
External training is carried out by directing trainees to complete assignment
under the close supervision of Agricultural Instructors of the area. Zonal Assistant
Director of Agriculture (ADA/Z) as well as Zonal Agricultural Officers (AO/Z)
also supervise and guide the trainees.
These assignments are designed by the training staff of the training centre.
Supervision of external training is mainly done by the Agricultural Instructor
attached to the Agrarian Development Centre of the area. He is responsible to
report trainees' progress to the particular training centre.
In addition, training staff of the training centre randomly supervise the trainees'
activities in farming communities. Similarly, Education unit of the DOA supervise
above whenever necessary.
7.0 Examinations & Evaluations
At the end of one year training, certificates are awarded
to the participants who had fulfilled all the requirements.
Following components are included to the Examinations & Evaluation process
of each subject
7.1 Type of Evaluation & marks allocation
| Type | Theory Practical (knowledge base) %marks | (skill base) %marks |
| i. Continuous Evaluation (CE) | 20 | 25 |
| ii. Assignments | 20 | 15 |
| iii. Final Examination | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
| Marks given as follows: | ||
| i. Continuous Evaluation | -(CE)-Done by training officer responsible for the subject concern. | |
| ii. Assignment | -Done by External supervising officer and training Officer of the training centre. | |
| iii. Final Examination | -Knowledge: | |
| (a) One hour multiple choice question paper (MCQ) including
40 items prepared by the Examination Unit of DOA. |
||
| (b) Two hour structured type question paper including 60 compulsory questions prepared by the Examination Unit of DOA. |
||
| -Practical: | ||
| Done by training officer concern or External Examiner with training officer. | ||
7.2 Pass marks, grades, course completion and class
awarding
7.2.1 Pass marks
To pass a subject, trainee should obtain at least 50%
of marks for practical and for 50% of marks for theory. On the other hand, at
least 50% of marks allocated for continuous evaluation, at least 50% of marks
allocated for assignment and at least 50% of marks allocated for final examination
should obtain by the trainee to pass a subject.
7.2.2 Grades for subject:
To assign grades for subject, following computation
is used.
| Marks for practical | - P |
| Marks for theory | - T |
| Grade marks ..................................................................= | 2P + T |
| ......3 |
| Grade marks | Grade for subject |
| 50-59 % | General pass (S) |
| 60-74 % | Credit pass (C) |
| 75-100 % | Distinction pass (D) |
7.2.3 Passing the training course
Trainee should obtain at least general pass (S) marks
for all subjects.
7.2.4 Awarding class
I At least for 05 subjects should obtain credit pass.
II On the basis of average grade marks classes are awarded as follows.
|
Average grade
Marks |
Class
|
| 50-59 | General pass |
| 60-74 | Second class pass |
| 75-100 | First class pass |
7.2.6 Attendance
a) A minimum of 80% attendance for Theory and 50% attendance
for Practical is required to sit for the final examination of each subject.
b) If a trainee gets less than 80% attendance (Lectures or Practical) for 05
or more than 05 subjects he or she is not allowed to sit for any subject of
final examination.
c) If a trainee gets less than 40% attendance for 04 or more than 04 subjects
(Theory or Practical) within one quarter of the academic period he or she should
be discontinued from the training course.
d) If a trainee not attended for the final theory or practical examination of
04 or more than 04 subjects it is considered that he or she has not appeared
for any subject of the final examination.
e) If a trainee met an accident while participating in training session, he
or she can make an appeal for concession in attendance.
f) At the commencement of academic program, if a trainee not report for training
within 15 days he or she will not be considered to follow the one-year practical
Agriculture training course. Similarly if any trainee is absent for 10 consecutive
days during the session he or she will discontinue from the training course.
This will not valid to the trainees who are absent on medical ground and inform
the head of the training centre his or her sickness with a valid medical certificate
without delay. Director General of Agriculture will take the final decision
on the recommendation of Training Management Committee.
g) All the trainees should sign the daily attendance register as well as the
departure register.
h) During the external training (Assignments- stage II & IV) all the trainees
should sign the attendance register at the office they are been attached. When
computation the percentage of attendance these factors should take into account.
7.2.7 Repeat Examinations
No special Repeat Examinations are conducted. Under
the following circumstances trainee can sit for the examination conduct in the
next year. For those trainees this examination is considered as repeat exam
for them. The trainees wish to take repeat examinations they should apply before
03 months to the date of examination.
To apply for repeat examination, recommendation of Training Management Committee
is essential.
a) If attendance for a subject is between 40% (include
40%) and 80% (include 79%), the trainee can sit for the repeat examination.
b) If final marks of a subject is below 50% (fail), trainee can apply for the
repeat examination. In this regard, trainee should take both written test and
practical test.
c) Even the marks for continuous evaluation is below 50% repeat continuous evaluation
tests are not carried out. If marks for assignment are less than 50% of allocated
amount of marks, trainee should complete the given assignment again and earn
required amount of marks. His or her final results should be released in the
next year when releasing results.
d) If any trainee could not appear for 05 or more than 05 subjects of the final
examination due to poor attendance for lectures and practical (less than 80%),
he or she should appear for all the subjects in next year examination.
e) If any trainee had taken repeat examination for any subject due to any reason,
he or she should not given subject grades. In addition, class of honours should
not be awarded.
8.1 Results releasing board
Final result of the trainees is prepared by head of
the training centre under the supervision of examination unit of the DOA. The
results enter in the Register of examination results maintained by head of the
Training Centre.
Heads of the training centres should produce the Examination results record
(register) to the Result releasing board.
Result releasing board comprises the following officers.
i. Director (Extension & Training)
ii. Deputy Director (Training)
iii. Deputy Director (Examination)
iv. Assistant Director (Examination)
v. Heads of the Training Centres
vi. Assistant/ Deputy Director (District), Agrarian Service Department.
Final results of the each training centre should be examined by the board. After approving by signing in the results register, the results are released.
8.2 Certificates
i. Temporary certificate
If a trainee has completed all the requirements such as evaluations, assignments
and sat for all the subjects of final examination (Theory and Practical), a
temporary certificate will be issued by the head of training centre on trainee's
request.
ii. Certificate of One Year Practical Agriculture course
This certificate is issued after releasing the final results. Certificate is
signed by both Head of the training centre and Director General of Agriculture
iii. Detail certificate (Academic transcript)
Subjects, Subject grades received, class of honours awarded and effective date
of the certificate etc. include to the detail certificate. The academic transcript
is issued on trainee's request and it's endorsed by both head of the training
centre and Director General of Agriculture.
| Training Institute | Residential capacity |
| 1. Sri Lanka School of Agriculture, Anuradapurapura | 100 |
| 2. Sri Lanka School of Agriculture, Wariyapola, | 80 |
| 3. Sri Lanka School of Agriculture, Karapincha, | 100 |
| 4. Sri Lanka School of Agriculture, Labuduwa | 100 |
| 5. In-service Training Institute, Gannoruwa | -- |
| 6. In-service Training Institute, A.lapellessa | -- |
| 7. Horticultural Crop Training & Development Centre, Bibile | 100 |
| 8. District Agriculture Training Centre, Weerawila | 60 |
| Total | 440 |
Meal - Meals are provided by the food committee
managed by the trainees themselves.
10.0 Rules & regulations
Trainees are responsible for knowing published
rules and regulations and act accordingly.
10.1 Recruitment for training
| I. | Applicant should have been released for training by Head of the Department or organization he or she belongs. Aforesaid releasing letter should be produced at the time of recruitment as a trainee. |
| II. | During the training period, all the administration relevant to trainees should be done by the head of the training centre. |
| III. | Recruit as trainees only the applicants
have been fulfilled basic educational qualifications. indicated in the recruitment procedure. Originals of Educational certificates should be produced by the applicants. |
| IV. | After recruit as a trainee, he or she should sign daily attendance register and departure register. |
| V. | All administration circulars issued regarding government officers' attendance are relevant to the trainees. |
| VI. | Number of working days for a training week is 5 ½. That is from Monday to 12.30 pm of Saturday. |
| VII. | All the residential trainees should pay the fee for meal to the food committee promptly. The rate should be decided by the food committee and approval of the unit head should be obtained by the committee in advance. |
10.2 Hostels
| I. | If hostel facilities provide, trainee should stay in hostel. |
| II. | if special permission hasn't granted trainee
should not remain in hostel during the training sessions are going on. |
| III. | Protecting hostel recourses such as building,
furniture, equipment and electrical fittings etc are trainees' responsibility. If any of them damage due to trainee misconduct, he or she should pay the value with 25% Department charge. |
| IV. | When any trainee going out from the hostel
other than for training sessions in the centre, he or she should sign in the register maintain in the hostel. Time of going out and reason should indicate in this register. |
| V. | Giving boarding facilities, food or any
other things for outsiders is prohibited. |
| VI. | Bringing to hostel or keeping explosives, drugs, liquor etc is prohibited. |
| VII. | The warden should be allowed
to check and inspect all the trainees properties whenever he requested. |