The “Permanent Crop Clinic” (PCC) concept was introduced to Sri Lanka in 2009 as a pilot project in selected districts. With promising results, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) decided to expand the programme throughout the island in 2012.

The main objective of the PCC is to provide better advice on pest management to farmers when their crops are ill, focusing particularly on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques.

PCCs are conducted by Plant Doctors (Agriculture Instructors) at permanent places. Farmers are informed about the date and time of the clinics through posters, SMS, and at farmer organization meetings. At the PCC, the Plant Doctor makes a diagnosis after observing a sample brought by farmers, the farmer will then receive a written prescription. A copy of the prescription is sent to the Plant Protection Service of the DOA. Data management staff then upload its content onto the Plantwise Online Data Management System (POMS) to develop a database from which researchers, extensionists, and policy makers can draw information on the crop pest situation in Sri Lanka. The data also allows Programme Managers to monitor activities and identify training needs so that Plant Doctors can increase their knowledge and the quality of diagnoses, and future advice can be improved.