Workshop on the New Extensionist was held on 10 th & 11 th February 2016 at the In-service Training Institute, Gannoruwa

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1 THE 20 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE BOARD OF STUDY IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, POSTGRADUATE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA WAS COMMEMORATED WITH SEVERAL ACTIVITIES Workshop on the New Extensionist was held on 10 th & 11 th February 2016 at the In-service Training Institute, Gannoruwa The Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture and the Board of Study in Agricultural Extension Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, in collaboration with the Agriculture Extension South Asian Association (AESA) organized a workshop to identify the key challenges faced by agriculture extension and advisory services and to ascertain the competencies required for an effective professional extensionist. The workshop considered the main challenges faced by the profession in modern times and how best to respond from a human resource development perspective. Mid-level extension professionals from the key agriculture subsectors of Sri Lanka, namely, plantations, food crops, livestock, and export agricultural crop, participated. A participatory interactive methodology was adopted by the resource persons from AESA who facilitated the workshop.

2 The National Conference on Agricultural Extension and Policy dialog was held on 12 th February 2016 at the Oak Ray Regency Hotel, Kandy The Department of Agricultural Extension together with the Board of Study (BoS) in Agricultural Extension and the Sri Lanka Agricultural Extension Association, held a National Conference on Agricultural Extension and Policy Dialog on 12 th February 2016 at Kandy. The conference provided a platform for policy discussions among agricultural extension service providers and service recipients from four major sectors including Food crop sector, Plantation sector, Livestock sector and Export Agricultural Crop Sector. This conference was held as a part of commemorating the 20 years of establishing the Department of Agricultural Extension and the BoS Ag. Extension. Dr. Chandana Jayawardena from the Department of Agricultural Extension coordinated the conference. The outcome of the conference will be further discussed with identified stakeholders and then communicated to the policy makers.

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4 Agricultural Extension Family Get together 20 th Anniversary was held on 13 th February 2016 at the In-service Training Institute, Gannoruwa The students majoring in Agricultural Extension in the Department of Agricultural Extension and the Graduate students of the Board of Study in Agricultural Extension, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya organized the 20 th Anniversary get-together of alumni and staff. The occasion was attended by a large number of Agriculture Extension Alumni of the University of Peradeniya. Prof. Gamini Pushpakumars, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Prof. S. Samita, Director PGIA graced the occasion. The occasion held annually is to provide an opportunity to interact, forge new alliances and for sharing life and professional experiences with especially the students who are aspiring for successful careers.

5 Field Study Program was held on 18 th 20 th February 2016 The students majoring in Agricultural Extension attended a field study program in Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Jaffna. The filed visits included interacting with filed extension officers and farmers, to observe their farming systems in the East and North as well as to discuss farmer s achievements and challenges. The learning activities built into the program were in relation to the courses they will be taking for the forthcoming semester starting in March In Trincomalee the students conducted a vocational training career awareness program for youth in two schools. This was on the invitation of Child Development Foundation (CDF) of the Eastern Province. Close to a hundred Tamil and Sinhala speaking young school children attended the program. The students developed the training material including flip charts and handouts. In Kilinochcho the students visited the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Jaffna. An evening of games and interactions was organized by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna for the benefit of the visiting students and staff.

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