WHO WE ARE

The Agribusiness Centre (AbC) is the main outreach arm of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya. The centre was established in 1997 with the aim of reinforcing the linkages between the university, and the private and public sector organizations.

It brings together university academics and decision-makers from diverse industry organizations including producers, manufacturers, marketers, policymakers, and service providers. The centre conducts consultancies, training programmes, workshops and field-based research programmes through effective linkages with national and international organizations.

The AbC is managed by Management and Coordinating committees, chaired by the Dean/Faculty of Agriculture. The centre is administered by a Director. The Management committee consists of representatives of Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Export Development Board; Industrial Development Board; National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka; Central Province Women's Chamber of Commerce; Sarvodaya; Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya; Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture and Heads of the departments of the Faculty of Agriculture.

Mission and Objectives

The vision of the University of Peradeniya

The vision of the University of Peradeniya is to be a centre of excellence in higher education with national and international standing while its mission is to contribute to the development of a knowledge-based society with social sensitivity, ethical rectitude and economic prosperity through education, research, dissemination of knowledge and active participation in national policy formulation and development in an efficiently managed, intellectually stimulating and harmonious university environment.

The mission of the Faculty of Agriculture

The mission of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka is to strive for excellence in education, research and outreach in the agriculture sector, for sustainable development.

In this context the Agribusiness Centre paves the way to utilize the expertise and resources in the Faculty of Agriculture to fulfill the needs of the industrial and services sectors. Accordingly, AbC intends to carryout outreach activities in a vast array of fields including,

Establish and run business counseling services for all individual entrepreneurs, groups and associated service organizations.Design and run demand driven training programmes for trainers and entrepreneurs (agricultural and nonagricultural). Liaise with other organizations to improve agribusiness service delivery systems.

Provide training opportunities for young persons to identify business ideas and develop these into actual enterprises.

In addition the centre involves in training and career development activities, To teach agriculture students basics of entrepreneurial skills, industrial relations and career development skills.

To help undergraduates to develop business ideas to transform these into actual enterprises and thus provide opportunities for self help projects.Maintain a database of all graduates of the faculty in collaboration with Dean’s Office in order to track their career mobility. To develop a positive attitude among youth and wider community towards entrepreneurship.To provide awareness for mid-career professionals on various technical aspects where academics serve as resource persons.Establish and run business counseling services for all individual entrepreneurs, groups and associated service organizations.Design and run demand driven training programmes for trainers and entrepreneurs (agricultural and nonagricultural). Liaise with other organizations to improve agribusiness service delivery systems.

Provide training opportunities for young persons to identify business ideas and develop these into actual enterprises.