
A
total of 4325 sets of vital farm
inputs
procured under the Climate Smart Irrigated
Agriculture Project (CSIAP) were subjected to a comprehensive
quality verification process at the Farm
Mechanization Research Centre (FMRC), Mahailluppallama,
yesterday (22nd), to ensure that they meet the agreed technical specifications
before being distributed to farming communities. Each
set of farm inputs was tested under eleven categories, which included
Solar-powered Water Pumps, Electric Water Pumps, and Micro Irrigation Systems
such as Sprinklers, Drip, Micro Jet, and Rain Hose on the FMRC premises. The inputs, installed by the respective service
providers, will support several CSIAP initiatives, namely the Climate-Smart
Agronomic Improvements Programme, Climate-Smart Commercial Home Gardening
Programme, Micro Irrigation Programme, and the Climate-Smart Agriculture Model
Village Programme. The
FMRC technical staff, together with Chief Engineer Mr. Anuradha Wijethunga,
conducted practical tests and evaluations to assess durability, performance,
and compliance with the required standards.
Prior
to the testing, the CSIAP Project Director, Mr. Saman Bandulasena held a meeting
with the vendors, during which he explained the purpose of subjecting all
inputs to testing. He emphasized that this process was not only a procurement
requirement but also a crucial step to guarantee that farmers receive
quality-assured, climate-smart technologies that will directly support their
livelihoods. This
testing process is a key quality assurance step to ensure that only high-standard, climate-smart technologies
are delivered to farmers. Once cleared, the farm inputs will be distributed
among beneficiaries in 11
districts across six provinces in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, where
the CSIAP is being implemented with the objective of promoting
climate-resilient, water-efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices.
The
inspection and testing session was led by Mr.
Saman Bandulasena, Project Director of CSIAP, together with Mr. R. P. M. Dissanayake, Deputy Project Director for North Central Province, Mr. H.M.P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director for
the North Western Province, Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director for Northern Province and Mr. D.M.L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project
Director for Southern and Uva Provinces. Several subject specialists and
other officials of the CSIAP also participated in the event,
reflecting the project’s strong emphasis on accountability and transparency in
procurement and implementation.
Speaking
during the inspection, Project Director Mr. Bandulasena highlighted that
ensuring the quality of procured inputs is essential to the project’s success.
“Our farmers must receive only the best quality technologies, as they play a
critical role in increasing productivity and resilience under changing climate
conditions,” he said.
The
CSIAP, funded by the World Bank,
is designed to introduce climate-smart
technologies, improve irrigation
efficiency, and enhance sustainable
agriculture in vulnerable regions of Sri Lanka. The rigorous
testing and monitoring of farm inputs is part of its broader commitment to
ensure farmers benefit from reliable and effective tools that will strengthen
food security and rural livelihoods.