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PGS
Organic Council of Sri Lanka - Planning
workshop |
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Date: 15th
and 16th of July 2010 |
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Venue: Sewalanka
Training Centre, Piliyandala |
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Organizations:
University of Wayamba, Makandura Agriculture
Research Institute, Sewalanka, Department of
Agriculture, Export Development Board, Sri
Lanka Nature Forum, Farmer Federation,
Mihithala Mithuro Environment Foundation
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The program was started by
Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam, Coordinator, and
President Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement
(LOAM) and welcomes all the participants. At
the moment the previous introductory
workshop was briefly described and Mrs.
Amanda, Director of Sewalanka was invited to
give an interpretation on value of PGS. |
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On her little interpretation
she mentioned the history of organic
agriculture in America and its evolution.
She brought examples from her country to
emphasize the value of this concept for Sri
Lankan. At the end she encouraged us to
produce healthy and nutritious food for all
through PGS. |
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After that Mr. Thilak express
his idea on the value of PGS and its
importance of PGS to achieve food
sovereignty"
was
emphasized there and following points were
noted as special points to build a path to
start PGS. |
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PGS standards |
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Implementation body of PGS |
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What is the market
structure? |
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Who trains farmers
and introduce PGS |
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Activity plan for PGS |
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At
the same time importance of getting the
support from the Department of Agriculture
was mentioned in order to established the
system. After that a discussion was held with
the facilitation of Mr. Thilak and each
organizations was explained their
contribution on organizing of both farmers
and consumers on PGS. Mr. Hemantha suggested
to register the farmers before selling at
the organic market. Mr. Udaya pointed out
the value of organizing village level
collectors for this type of guaranty system
as they are very closely link with both
village level producers and consumers. To
minimize the mistakes of collectors a
providing of grant was suggested by
Mr.Hemantha. Mr. Ajantha explained a model
which is practicing by BRIT and it was to
collect village level and sell them by using
a delivery vehicle in urban areas. Mr.
Thilak mention the importance of transport
as it is no use of selling nearby the
production place. Mrs. Priyanga suggested
starting an organic centre in Economic
Centre like Dambulla. |
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After that deafly discussed the high price
of organically produce traditional rice and
importance of reducing cost of production in
order to increase the affordability of
organic produce. Linking of few farmers to
strength farming as an entrepreneurship was
the suggestion to reduce the cost of
production. In addition to that importance
of Policy lobbing and advocacy was mention
by Mr.Hemantha to compete with CIC like big
companies. |
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Mr. Dammika of University of
Wayamba mentioned the value of preparing PGS
criteria comparatively. At the same time he
explained the possibility of arranging short
certificate course as a vocational skill
development activity. Mr.Thilak accepted the
importance of such kind of activities as an
intermediate requirement to introduce when
PGS is functioning. As well the trend of
introducing this system for the livestock
production is pointed out. |
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Structure of PGS Council |
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Role of the National
Council |
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Awareness and promotion
of PGS |
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Conducting of relevant
trainings |
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Creation of market
linkages |
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Take policy level
decisions |
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Registration of farmer
groups and take decisions for the
certifications |
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Complains and
investigation analysis |
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Interim committee of PGS
Council |
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Will be consist fifteen
members representing different backgrounds
at the initial stage and when the farmers 15
farmer representatives will come from
different regions. At the initial stage
there will be only 15 members and others
will be added when the PGS groups got their
registration. |
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Responsibilities of
Facilitator |
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Facilitator may be an
organization or individual person having
basic understanding on PGS. |
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Selection of committed
group |
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Farmer motivation |
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Providing of required
facilities and coordination |
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Providing of a back
ground for the farmers to get
decisions |
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PGS Group |
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Structure of the producer
group:
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Number of farmers for PGS
group is 5-20 and if the numbers of farmers
are exceeding this limit they can be
scattered. This is done for the easiness of
monitoring as well as to improve the active
participation of each member. The grouping
can be done by considering the ecology,
irrigation pattern, land extend etc. Within
group variation should be minimum. |
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Documents maintaining within
a PGS group |
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Name list of the
farmers |
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Crop records |
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Individual farmer base
crop history records |
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Land information |
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Input records |
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Yield records |
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Initial Plan to Establish PGS
groups |
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Organization |
Responsible person |
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Number of groups |
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FFCTSAR |
Hemantha |
Paddy |
2 |
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Sewalanka-Hatton, Hambantota, Jafna |
Siwa |
Upcountry Vegetable |
2 |
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Mihithala Mithuro
Science Foundation |
Munagama |
Paddy |
1 |
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Weligepola |
Renuka |
Vegetable, Pulsus |
1 |
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EAD-Kalutara |
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Cinnamon, Ginger |
1 |
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University of Wayamba |
Dammika |
Animal husbandry and
fisheries |
3 |
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Makandura Research
Institute |
Priyanga |
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2 |
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Etc |
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3 |
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Total |
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15 |
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Mr.Thilak agreed to establish
a coordination centre at the LOAM office and
agreed to provide officer for the
coordination activities as a contribution of
LOAM for the initiation of PGS in Sri Lanka.
All the participants had a discussion
regarding the name of the council and PGS
organic council of Sri Lanka was finalized (PGSOCSL).
The office of PGS council will be
established No.161, Sri Visuddarama Road,
Colombo 05. Meanwhile Department of
Livestock and Avian science, Faculty of
Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba
University would provide the opportunity to
establish the entire operation of the
council. |
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Certification Procedure |
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Receiving of request
letter from the farmer group |
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Conducting of awareness
program by a nominated person of PGSOSL
counci |
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Collection of data
through farmer appraisal forms |
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Nomination of
Facilitator group by the council |
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Preparation of PGS
standards by the farmer group with
the assistance of facilitator group |
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Deciding the conversion
period by the council based on the
field data |
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Group registration |
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Evaluation visit by the
nominated person of the council |
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Issuing the certificate |
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Financial Management |
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The initial management of the
council will be done by the selected
working group. |
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To strengthen the initial funds a project
proposal will be written to get the support
for the promotion and establishment of PGS. |
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When the process is started a
reasonable price will be charge for
the certification and it will be
utilized as a fund to reimburse the
expenses. |
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Promoting of PGS |
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Through LOAM the PGS
can be promoted while doing the
promotion of both production and
consumption of organic. |
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Promotion of PGS by
broachers, leaflets and publications. |
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The leaflets will be
arranged after finalizing the
structural frame work, Sri Lankan
PGS guide lines and certification
procedure of the PGS council. |
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Structural Frame Work of the
Interim Committe |
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Until PGS concept become
popular among the farmers and consumers a
working group is established. |
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Working group |
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- Chairman |
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- Vice chairman |
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- Secretary |
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- Vice secretary |
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- Treasurer/ Financial
secretary |
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Selected members for the
working group |
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Chairman- Mr.Dammika
Weerathilake |
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Deputy Chairman- Mr.M.T.Saman |
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Secretary- Mr.Indik |
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Deputy Secretary-
Mrs.S.Disanayaka |
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Treasurer- Mrs. Renuka
Badrakanthi |
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This group was included to a
board of directors as follows, |
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Managing Director :
Mr.Dammika Weerathilake |
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Director: Mr.M.T.Saman |
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Director- Administration :
Mr.Indika |
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Director : Mrs.S.Disanayaka |
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Director- finance : Mrs.
Renuka Badrakanthi |
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The working group/ board
of directors was agreed to meet once a month
and they should prepare a one year action
plan. They should gather all the council
members once in three month normally. |
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Responsibilities of the
working group/ Board of Directors |
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Managing Director:
is the in charge of the
council ,final authority who look over all
the matters and coordinates all the
activities of the council |
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Director: Member of board of
directors, (subjects to be identified) |
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Director - Administration:
Member of board of directors, Preparation of
all the documents on behalf of the council
and coordination of all secretarial works |
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Director:
Member of board of directors, (subjects to
be identified) |
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Director – Finance: Responsible for the
keeping of all the financial records and
financial management of the council. |
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Future Activities |
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Selection of initial 15 PGS groups |
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Preparation of training manual and
presentation for the introduction. Every one
was asked to come with a Power Point
presentation to introduce PGS for the next
gathering and it will be finalized there.
Then every PGS council member will follow a
same structure to introduce PGS. |
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Improve the PGS concept in to a project
proposal for the funding purposes and
presenting it for the donors |
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Opening of Bank account at HNB Nugegoda |
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Creation of an official email address for
the PGS council (pgssrilanka@sltnet.lk) |
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Creation of a logo and trade mark: Every
body was asked to bring a prepared draft
council logo for the next workshop and the
trade mark will be selected after conducting
an open competition. Publishing trade mark
through paper article on November/December. |
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Practice two different trade marks for the
certified organic and in conversion organic
products |
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Establishment of office place at LOAM office |
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Building up of international relations and
arranging of experience sharing visit to
India |
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Introduce this concept to the SRI Net Work |
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Next meeting will be held at
Makandua, University Of Wayamba on 20th
August. |
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Planed activities for the
next workshop |
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- Finalizing the introduction
presentation for PGS |
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- Finalizing the logo |
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- Preparation of farmer
Application form(study the given format and
make suggestion). |
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- Identification of
facilitators |
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Mr.Indika as the secretary of
the council did the vote of thanks and
invited all to give their collaboration to
increase the organic production and
consumption through PGS. |
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Photos |
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PGS
Interdiction By Mr. Thalik Kriyawasam
(President LOAM) |
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PGS
Workshop |
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PGS
working group |
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