In this regard, awareness programmes play a crucial role in achieving the objectives of the CSIAP, by ensuring that stakeholders are well-informed and engaged. From 2019 to March 2025, the Project Management Unit and Deputy Project Directors’ Offices in six provinces of the CSIAP have conducted over 2250 awareness programs, focusing on farmers, across 47 Agrarian Service Center divisions in 11 districts, where the CSIAP is being implemented. This initiative, which has already benefitted over 105,800 farmers including around 51,300 females, aimed to enhance knowledge, improve participation, and drive sustainable impact.
Farmers benefit greatly from awareness programs in several ways, including; Adopting Climate Resilience activities, Improved Knowledge of CSA, Climate Smart Input & Subsidies, Market Insights, Technology Adoption, Soil & Water Conservation, Pest & Disease Control, Entrepreneurship, Value Addition and Value Chain Development
Awareness programmes conducted across various sectors by the CSIAP have led to notable success stories, demonstrating their impacts on individuals and farming communities below.
I
am Nissansala Mihirani from Gomarankadawala in Trincomalee District. As
an unemployed mum, I attended an awareness programme on Climate-Smart
Nutrition-Sensitive Home Gardens conducted by the Deputy Project Director's
Office of the CSIAP in the Eastern Province, held at the Gomaran Kadawala
Agrarian Service Center in 2022. I learned about this programme, which was very
much different from other ordinary programmes. I wanted to earn an income
independently to support my family, especially helping my children's education
without burdening my husband, so this programme sparked my interest in a
Climate-Smart Nutrition-Sensitive Home Garden, and I turned to it.
first of all, I was given very good training on the Home Garden. Not only that, I was trained at the Thirappane Climate Smart Farmer training school too. The CSIAP also supplied the necessary inputs, including a micro irrigation system and seeds to start my home garden. I was supervised by project officials while gardening, and instructions were provided when needed. The income from selling vegetables in the garden is good enough to cover the domestic expenses as well as the cost of children's education. I earn 60000 rupees in Maha Season. We live happily today because of this project. I express my gratitude to the CSIAP for helping me make a beautiful home garden.
I am Dhulari Madhushani from Nambakada, Anoradhapura. We are cultivating in three seasons now because the Deputy Project Director’s office of the CSIAP in the North Central Province has developed seven tanks, including the Horanakkara tank in our village under the Nambakada Cascade. By 2019, we cultivated only in the
Maha season due to inadequate water.
Through awareness campaigns launched by this project in 2019, we gained an understanding of the benefits we could receive. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp contraction of our daily lives, cultivation and finances. The project introduced us to agrotechnology including CSA practices, and provided us with agro-inputs. Our farmers underwent training programmes at the Thirappaney Farmer Training School to learn about Climate Smart Agriculture technologies & practices. These allow us to rebuild our lives to some extent. Deputy Project Director Mr. R. P. M. Dissanayaka and his staff are providing all support for the betterment of our people's lives. It is with great happiness and excitement to say that our village has been developed by the CSIAP. We expect to move forward with this project.
I
am Y. M. P. Karunaratne, married, having two kids, and
chairperson of The Parakum Farmers' organization in Ethiliwewa,
Monaragala district. I learned framing from my father Y.M. Heenbanda, who is
next to me. We have 33 farmers of the Parakum Farmers'
Organization cultivating 39 acres of paddy. We are proud to talk about
climate-smart agriculture. The major problem we faced was the
damage caused by the wild animals here. The wild animals meant the damage
caused by the elephants. This has become a big headache. Fortunately, we
heard about CSIAP and its elephant fencing programme through an awareness
campaign conducted in our Ethiliwewa village by the Deputy Project Director Mr.
Bandaranayake and his staff of the CSIAP in Uva province.
Then, we got to know about such a big project being implemented in our area. We requested the Deputy Project Director to provide us with an elephant fence for our Ethilwewa Farmers' Organization. He agreed with us and provided us with an elephant fence to protect our paddy fields. We organized ourselves as explained in the awareness programme. Thanks to CSIAP and the World Bank for providing us with a 3 km-long elephant fence. Now, we have been able to protect our paddy fields for several seasons and being able to bring home 100% of our harvest without any issues. The fence was erected in 2021. We save around Rs 1 m a year. I request the CSIAP to help all farmers in Sri Lanka.
I am Vijayaraasa Santhiya from Mulankavil, Kilinochchi. Cultivating continuously throughout the year was challenging with floods and droughts due to climate change. I became a beneficiary of the project in 2022 and gained knowledge on Climate-Smart Agriculture practices. As a young farmer, my son K san helps me with farming today. Officials of the Deputy Project Director’s Office of the CSIAP in Northern Province made us aware of several innovative techniques to adapt to climate change and implement sustainable cultivation practices. By adopting these new methods,
In June 2024, we cultivated watermelons and harvested 3000 kg. Our income was 450,000 rupees. Not only that, we planted a special chilli variety in November of the same year and harvested 750 kg. we earned 750,000 rupees. Recently the Project Director of the CSIAP Mr. Saman Bandulasena visited here to see my progress made through cultivation. The CSIAP provided us with a power sprayer, an inter-cultivator, high-quality seeds, planting materials, a micro-irrigation system and a solar-powered water pump. The Deputy Project Director in the Northern Province of the CSIAP, Mr. George Babu encourages us and closely monitors our every task. This project has made a big difference in our lives. I am proud to be called a successful woman entrepreneur.
I am Gayani Sashi Praba from Weerawila in Hambantota. This project laid the foundation for me to move forward from cultivation to business. I am pleased to say that the CSIAP gave us a new lease of life. I started producing value-added products such as oil cake, Peanut Butter, Groundnut oil, sesame oil, and Kurakkan flour from the harvest reaped from my cultivated land. My husband and my daughter also support my business.
I learned of the project through an awareness campaign conducted in our area by the Deputy Project Director's office in Southern and Uva Provinces. Deputy Director Bandaranayke constantly monitors every activity we do. I realized that I could get some help for my cultivation. Officials of the project came to me and identified my needs. They trained me to use climate-smart agriculture in my cultivation and provided me with a micro irrigation system and insect-proof net. At present, I cultivate groundnut, sesame and kurakkan. This project helped me live happily with my family while earning a good income of Rs. Rs. 300,000 per season. A lot of farmers are visiting my cultivation. As a woman farmer, I have become an entrepreneur.
Ongoing awareness is essential for ensuring that beneficiaries fully adopt best practices, and effectively utilize project resources to increase their incomes and living standards.
By Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist, PMU, CSIAP