Fostering Stewardship Approach to Promote Technology Transfer among Sugarcane Extension Staff in the Monaragala District, Sri Lanka

The sugarcane industry in Sri Lanka is facing a decline in sugar recovery rates, emphasizing the need for improved technology transfer and capacity building among extension staff. This study explored the use of an ICT stewardship approach to enhance extension services in the Monaragala District through a five-phase action research framework: (i) information needs analysis, (ii) choosing technology, (iii) rapid prototyping, (iv) designing and implementing the communication campaign, and (v) evaluation. Information needs were assessed through four focus group discussions and a semi-structured questionnaire (n=28). WhatsApp Messenger, preferred by users, was selected as the communication platform. Three WhatsApp groups were created for the extension officers of three sugar companies, and a three-week campaign was conducted to disseminate technical content. Feedback was collected through a questionnaire (n=40), and descriptive methods were used to analyze data. Key information needs included cane quality improvement (93%), weed management (82%), and water management (82%). WhatsApp was the most commonly used platform, followed by Facebook (71%), and SMS (64%). ICT tools were mainly used for sharing curated content (96%), accessing expertise (79%), and facilitating meetings and conversations (75%). Video-based messages were rated the most effective (85%), and 38% of respondents regularly re-shared the information with farmers. Most participants rated the campaign as highly successful (75%) or successful (25%). Challenges included time constraints, poor network access, and data limitations. The study concludes that the ICT stewardship approach is an effective strategy for strengthening technology transfer and capacity building among extension officers in the sugarcane industry.