Dr. Surantha Salgadoe, ISPA Country Representative for Sri Lanka, Sujith Ratnayake and Sharon Mendonce   The short answer: Yes! Discover how drones can help overcome agricultural challenges in Sri Lanka's cascade landscapes and build a mutually beneficial partnership between young researchers and smallholder farmers in the region of Anuradhapura.   There’s a reason why aerial shots are so captivating: they reveal a perspective we aren’t used to, and that we most likely can’t experience ourselves. They can also evoke a feeling of awe, when we see the size of humans in comparison to majestic landscapes!   Like several other aerial videos, the one above was captured using a drone (also known as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV). Drones are incredibly versatile and can capture footage from various angles and altitudes. Their technology has advanced greatly in the past two decades, enabling them to support crop management and early warning systems, as well as wildlife and forestry conservation.    Mounting pressure in the cascade landscape    Sri Lanka's unique cascade landscapes consist of ancient networks of interconnected water tanks, as well as the surrounding villages, forests and farmland that depend on these water sources. For generations, a large part of the communities living in these cascade landscapes have depended on farming for their livelihood. As a result, the community has a rich history of traditional knowledge and agricultural practices that have enhanced crop productivity and guided agricultural development in the landscape.    However, today’s cascade landscape farmers face mounting pressures such as the rising cost of living and increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather patterns due to climate change. In the hopes of expanding and intensifying their crop production, ...more

The Ministry of Science and Technology is focusing on formulating a formal strategic plan for the development, standardization, and commercialization of drone technology applications in Sri Lanka. National-level discussions regarding this initiative are presided over by the Minister of Science and Technology, Senior officials from numerous institutions, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, state Universities, the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute, NARA, and the Departments of Survey, Agriculture, and Irrigation.    Drone technology is currently widely utilized across various sectors in the country, including industry and agriculture. Consequently, the objective of this discussion was to exchange views with relevant stakeholders regarding the formulation of a strategic plan for the development, standardization, testing, and commercial application of drone technology within the country. Four key objectives associated with this technology were discussed in detail.   Its objectives included formulating National Standards (SLS) for drone manufacturing, assembly, and safety, as well as for environmental, industrial, and agricultural applications; identifying laboratories for drone testing and quality control; identifying areas for research, technology development, and commercialization related to drone technology; and taking necessary steps—in collaboration with relevant institutions—to alleviate or remove legal and policy barriers associated with this technology.   Arachchige Surantha Ashan Salgadoe ISPA Country Representative in Sri Lanka Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Mng Wayamba University of Sri Lanka