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ICT Policy for Agriculture Based on a Transaction Cost Approach: Some Lessons from Sri Lanka

ICT Policy for Agriculture Based on a Transaction Cost Approach: Some Lessons from Sri Lanka

Harsha de Silva, Dimuthu Ratnadiwakara
Copyright: © 2010 |Volume: 1 |Issue: 1 |Pages: 14
ISSN: 1947-3419|EISSN: 1947-3427|ISSN: 1947-3419|EISBN13: 9781616929862|EISSN: 1947-3427|DOI: 10.4018/jictrda.2010010104
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MLA

de Silva, Harsha, and Dimuthu Ratnadiwakara. "ICT Policy for Agriculture Based on a Transaction Cost Approach: Some Lessons from Sri Lanka." IJICTRDA vol.1, no.1 2010: pp.51-64. http://doi.org/10.4018/jictrda.2010010104

APA

de Silva, H. & Ratnadiwakara, D. (2010). ICT Policy for Agriculture Based on a Transaction Cost Approach: Some Lessons from Sri Lanka. International Journal of ICT Research and Development in Africa (IJICTRDA), 1(1), 51-64. http://doi.org/10.4018/jictrda.2010010104

Chicago

de Silva, Harsha, and Dimuthu Ratnadiwakara. "ICT Policy for Agriculture Based on a Transaction Cost Approach: Some Lessons from Sri Lanka," International Journal of ICT Research and Development in Africa (IJICTRDA) 1, no.1: 51-64. http://doi.org/10.4018/jictrda.2010010104

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Abstract

In Sri Lanka, the majority of farmers are generally poor,and rely on subsistence agriculture. If these farmers can even partially be made responsive to market needs, as opposed to current household needs, they could cultivate at least some income generating crops, which if sustained, can reduce their poverty. However, high transaction costs associated with obtaining market information have continued to keep poor farmers entrenched in subsistence farming. The current ICT revolution is making previously costly market information much more affordable to these farmers. Therefore, if used appropriately, ICT can help reduce the high transaction costs associated with market information thereby helping farmers move toward some level of commercialization. The question is how can a country achieve this objective. This paper considers the case of Sri Lanka and provides lessons, both positive and negative, for African policymakers.

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