Using ICT to Give Reliable Information About Suitable Cultivation for Lands

Abstract

Sri Lanka is an agricultural country blessed with all the environmental factors to grow many varieties of crops. Agriculture is the backbone of Sri Lankan economy since ancient times. Therefore, developing agriculture is important to uplift the Sri Lankan economy and the standards of living. As an agricultural country, approximately 25% of the population of Sri Lanka which is a significant percentage engage in agriculture. But the productivity agriculture is not visible, and statistics show that the contribution of agriculture to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is nearly 7.9% which is a very low figure compared to the population engage in agriculture. Though there are various reason for this imbalance, one of the main reasons is not cultivating the correct crop at the correct place and time, as the success of cultivation depends on the harvest and also the market for each crop. Therefore, being aware the harvest and the market is important before starting the cultivation. For this reliable information should be available. And also, information should be easily accessible. ICT can be used to manage and share this information among cultivators. This study is an attempt to show the importance of being aware of and having proper knowledge prior to starting cultivations. In this research and project, a solution is proposed to help cultivators to select the best crops considering environment factors and the market. It is expected that this e-agriculture concept would increase the contribution of agriculture to the Sri Lankan economy.