Sri Lanka’s fishing industry directly employs over 600,000 people, and over 3,000,000 people are dependent on the sector in some way.At present, fishing contributes 1.5% of GDP, with projections that it will increase to 5%, according to the Fisheries Sector Development Policy Framework, formulated by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR).
In today’s knowledge-based economy, competitive advantages can be achieved simply with access to the right information at the right time. The lack of access to daily market information, such as the demand for and supply of different varieties of fish and price fluctuations in domestic and international markets, has created a problematic situation in the local fisheries industry where the middleman plays a central role and reaps unfair profits.As a result fishermen, who risk their lives at sea, and consumers alike are negatively affected.In a country where the fishing industry is vital to the economy and national welfare, issues related to fishing profitability, safety, and quality are high priority concerns.
This proposal aims to showcase the innovative use of widely available, low-cost, and localized technology. Sri Lanka’s ICT infrastructure is relatively well developed with high mobile penetration rates. Short Message Service (SMS) is available on mobile telephony, with local language text providing requisite information services to the fishermen and related stakeholders.Application of SMS technology for trading in general and for the fisheries industry in particular is a novel and innovative approach in local context.
NINFE plans to use SMS technology to improve the productivity, safety, and profitability for the fisheries sector by providing up-to-date information including weather, fish location, domestic and overseas demand, price fluctuations, and supplies. This would not only ensure that fishermen get the highest possible harvest, but also the best possible price (local or international) for their fish. This would result in increased catch, higher income, and increased national fish production.
NINFE will conduct the project adopting a participative development approach. During the course of this project, two solutions will be developed to provide comprehensive support to the fisheries community: the Mobile Trading Portal and the Info-Server.
The Mobile Trading Portal will provide services to facilitate business operations such as Trading Partner Profiles registration for fishermen, buyers, and third parties (transportation, etc).This will support market flow, contract negotiations, contract execution, and access to third party services.
The Info-Server will provide target user groups with up-to-date safety and market information such as weather, locations of fish availability, price information, and demands (with quantities) for specific varieties.Having this information available to them, fishermen will have the ability to sell their catches at better prices.
The implementations of both these modules will be carried out according to the recommendations of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).
Two operation centres, led by appointed community representatives, will be established in fisheries cooperatives at two popular harbours in Nakulugamuwa/Nilwella and Gandara as an initial awareness campaign.The centres will provide services to fishermen, traders, and third party service providers from each village. External web-services will also be integrated with the Mobile Portal System for the necessary service extension demands. The funding will also support the development of extensive system documentations and instruction manuals, workshops and training programs, and professional networking platforms.
NIFNE is an organization established under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. NINFE’s mandate is to provide vocational training and higher education in Fisheries and Nautical Engineering to meet the current and emerging needs in the Fisheries and Marine Sectors. NINFE has conducted several internationally-funded projects related to training and capacity building in seamanship, navigation, fishing gear technology, reduction of postharvest losses, etc. and has trained over 500 people annually. Research programs have been initiated in the recent past, which deal with topical industry issues such as the use of tracking devices in ascertaining the movement of vessels, desalination, and reduction of postharvest losses.
For more information about ORG, visit www.nifne.ac.lk