Location
It is the only research centre with good laboratory facilities and trained staff in different disciplines in field crop production in Southern dry zone of Sri Lanka. The centre is located 215km South-East of Colombo.
History
This Centre was established in 1969 with Asian Development bank funds and was administered by River Valley Development Board Until 1977. Cotton was considered as the major responsibility during this period.
After taking over by the Department of Agriculture in 1977 it was upgraded to a Regional Agriculture Research Centre in 1979. With the new change the responsibilities of the centre were widened and the centre had to look after all the field and horticultural crops cultivated in southern dry and intermediated zones.
In 1994 this centre was brought under Field Crop Research and Development Institute (FCRDI) and in 2001 it has been named as the Grain Legumes and oil Crops Research and Development Centre.
Vision
Achieve national prosperity through excellence in field crops
Mission
Be the national centre for achieving economic re-vitalization of the farmers in the field crops sector and to assure national food security through generation, development and dissemination of technology necessary for priority field crops to cater to sustainable and comparative field crops production in Sri Lanka.
Organizations mandate
Grain Legumes and Oil Crops Research and Development Centre, Angunakolapelessa of field crop Research and Development Institute of Department of Agriculture has a mandate to innovate and develop crop varieties and crop related management practices for other field crop with special reference to southern Dry Zone and Intermediate Zone. In addition this centre serves as the lead research centre for Groundnut, Sesame and Banana.
Goals
- Development of high yielding improved varieties of other field crops, dry zone vegetables and fruits suitable for irrigated and rain-fed conditions with pest, disease and drought resistance and quality.
- Developing improved soil and water conservation methods and soil fertility management practices.
- Development of improved agronomic practices to reduce cost of production to increase the productivity of Agricultural lands and crop productivity.
- Testing adaptability of new improved varieties and technologies.
- Development of plant protection strategies to minimize crop losses due to pest and disease.