Research for what?

November 7, 2011, 6:36 pm

By Dr. C.S. Weeraratna (csweera@sltnet.lk)

The World Science Day falls on 10th November. This article examines to what extent Science and Technology has been effectively used in Sri Lanka to alleviate poverty and socio-economic development of the country.

A large number of scientific organizations operate in Sri Lanka. There are 26 institutions that carry out research in hard sciences, in addition to the 14 universities, whose staff is also expected to conduct research. Among the organizations which promote research are the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP) and National Research Council (NRC). According to a report of a committee of three scientists, appointed a few years ago by a former Chairman of NSF, this foundation had funded 1725 research projects during 1970-2000. The cost of these 1275 projects is not known. During 1995-2000, NSF has funded 217 research projects involving a sum of Rs. 102 millions. The details of the research projects carried out by NSF since 2000 are not available. Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP), since its inception in 1988, has funded about 500 projects related to agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry, involving around Rs. 550 million. A five member committee of senior scientists appointed in 2006 by the former Minister of Agriculture to review CARP was of the opinion that the benefits of the research output did not commensurate with the investment. There is hardly any information available on the involvement of NRC in promoting research. Hence, one may wonder whether these three institutions have contributed significantly towards economic/technological development of the country.

In Sri Lanka, during the last two decades, perhaps a few thousands of research studies, involving billions of rupees worth of scarce resources, have been conducted. Findings of these research projects were presented at numerous conferences, seminars, symposia etc. It is important that we utilize these research findings for the benefit of the country, but there is no effective system to achieve this. Instead, the authorities are concerned in conducting more and more seminars, and workshops which appear to have no significant impact on effective use of Science and Technology. Most of the seminars and conferences were mostly "talkshops". For example, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, in September 2008, conducted an expensive training workshop on bio-fuels at a hotel in Kandalama, Dambulla. National Science Foundation held a seminar in Nov. 2009 to discuss and decide action to be taken to promote the use of bio-fuel. A number of papers were presented at this seminar on the use of straw to produce alcohol, use of Jatropha to make bio-diesel. There appears to be no output from these workshops.

Amir Muhammed, the chief guest at the 58th annual session of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Dec. 2002, concluded his address as follows. "I would like to emphasize that judicious application of science and technology for economic development holds the key for a speedy improvement of the quality of life and reduction of poverty in our region. While a balanced development of basic, applied and adaptive research is essential for healthy development of any society, the countries of our region, suffering from major problems of poverty and low quality of life have to use S&T primarily for poverty eradication and solution of major problems, at least in the short term".

 Challenges:

The challenges which we face in Sri Lanka have increased considerably during the last five years. For example, the trade deficit which was Rs. million 253 billion in the year 2005 has doubled to Rs. billion 585 in 2010. The expenditure on food has increased considerably. In the year 2005, we spent nearly Rs. 120 billion to import food, and in 2010 it has increased to Rs.244 billion. Out of this Rs. 70 billion was on sugar and milk most of which can be produced locally using appropriate S&T. The cost of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides run in to around Rs. 50 billions which can be reduced substantially by effective use of S&T.

The expenditure on petroleum imports has increased substantially from Rs. 68 billion in 2000 to Rs. 341 billion in 2010. The expenditure on imported fossil fuels is a major economic burden that will increase with time. The use of oil to generate electricity is increasing its cost. The total expenditure on petroleum imports is more than what we earn by exporting tea, rubber and coconut products. Hence, attention must be paid to exploit alternate energy sources in Sri Lanka, especially renewable forms in which S&T plays an important role. We have been talking about use of biomass, Gliricidia , bio-waste, bio-fuels, bio-diesel to generate energy but nothing much has happened. Two years ago there was an inert ministry committee appointed by the former Minister of Science & Technology to examine the alternatives to petroleum. A report highlighting the alternatives was submitted, but up to now action appear to have been taken on the proposals by the Ministry of Science and Technology. .

Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), a disease affecting kidneys, is widespread in some parts of the North Central Province, North Western and Uva provinces. Around 10,000 people, in the three provinces indicated above are currently undergoing treatment for this disease. Use of appropriate S&T is necessary to control this disease.

Thus, we have to face many challenges. To overcome these, the Ministry of Science and Technology should collaborate with the appropriate ministries to conduct relevant research and make use of their results effectively.

  Relevant Research

Scientists themselves have responsibilities to do research that is needed by the country. This is why the former Minister of Science & Technology, in his message to the 62nd Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science said the research effort should place more emphasis on development." Relevant research is critical for development and has a positive impact on the other development processes. For example, the increase in the average rice yields in Sri Lanka from 2,666 kg/ha in 1970 to around 4500 in 2010 can be mainly attributed to research leading to the development of new high yielding rice varieties, produced by the rice breeders of the Dept. of Agriculture.

Science and Technology need to be used to utilize locally available resources. The research efforts need to be directed more towards those aspects, which have a direct impact on the economy of the country, and to solve those problems, which affect the lives of the people. Conducting research alone will not lead to economic development. The research must be relevant to the issues the country is facing. The technologies developed by research need to be commercialized, for which appropriate investments have to made. The Board of Investments need to coordinate with the scientific organizations to attract investments on commercialization of proven technologies.

Sri Lanka is importing a large number of goods which has resulted in a wide trade gap. Producing these goods locally would not only save foreign exchange but also help to generate jobs and increase incomes, thereby increasing the standard of living of the people.

Introduction of S & T and Research & Development can bring-in cost savings and quality improvement enabling competitiveness. Some Economists are of the opinion that reducing the value of the rupee would promote our exports. Effective use of S&T would promote our exports as it would enable us to increase industrial productivity, leading to producing better quality goods and services at prices that can overcome the competition from abroad. Scientists, technologists and the decision makers need to promote the use of science and technology as an integral part of the effort to achieve rapid economic development, improved quality of life and to alleviate poverty.

 Need for a Private-Private partnership

Most of the research undertaken by Sri Lankan scientists end up as mere publications in scientific journals with very few research outputs yielding a commercial product or a process. As such, the contribution of R&D to the economy of the country is negligible. An accelerated programme to transfer the knowledge and technology generated in research laboratories to industrial enterprises capable of converting that knowledge to commercial products or processes should be initiated. These industrial enterprises are mainly in the private sector and the research capabilities lie with the state universities and research institutes. Hence, effective public private partnerships are essential for establishing strong, knowledge intensive, high tech industries in Sri Lanka. However the public R&D organizations in Sri lanka appear to be incapable of liaising effectively with the industry and researchers. Perhaps, Private –Private partnerships may be more effective.