DIMO, a leading diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka, entered into a partnership with the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ruhuna (FAUR) through its agriculture arm DIMO Agribusinesses, to develop an agricultural machinery training and a research hub in Sri Lanka.
DIMO spans across every aspect of the Agricultural Value Chain, including R&D, agriculture inputs, farming, processing and manufacturing, retail and export. DIMO aims to accelerate the agriculture mechanization process in Sri Lanka, while also facilitating the technical knowledge transformation for numerous stakeholders within the industry.
This agricultural machinery training and research hub will also support the research and development initiatives of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the agriculture sector while promoting the implementation of collaborative research projects for testing, modification and adaptation of agricultural machinery. DIMO Group CEO Gahanath Pandithage said, “DIMO is at the forefront of introducing the latest technological advancements to the farming community. For the development of any industry, the corporate sector needs to collaborate with academia. Finding the ideal fit between academia and the industry plays a significant role in this endeavour.”
DIMO’s partnership with the University of Ruhuna to develop the agricultural machinery training and research hub will also leverage the opportunity to promote the commercialization and patenting of invented machinery while facilitating the innovation in the sector.
The partnership will assist with agricultural machinery training for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Another objective of this project is to facilitate industrial training programmes within the degree programmes to develop the industrial motor skills of the undergraduates of FAUR. These training programmes will help DIMO to introduce the latest agriculture technologies to academia, farmers and other government officials in the agriculture field.
Under this partnership DIMO will invest on necessary machinery, materials and research and training. The University is well geared to offer its expertise, knowledgeand resource personalities for this venture.
The Agricultural Machinery Training and Research Hub has already supported several undergraduate research projects focusing on inventing new paddy transplants, weeders and dryers that will be utilized for paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka.
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