CSIAP on Sooriya Wimana, a live TV programme telecasted by ITN

Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director and Mr. Sisira Semasinghe, Agriculture extension Specialist of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) were on Sooriya Wimana, a live TV programme telecasted by ITN at 10.00am on 27th this month to talk about CSIAP and its objectives.

Please click to watch: Sooriya Wimana on YouTube or Sooriya Wimana on Facebook

CSIAP to improve the productivity and climate resilience is underway in Sri Lanka

Dr. Weerasinghe is on ITN FM

The development objective of Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is to improve the productivity and climate resilience of smallholder agriculture in selected hotspot areas. The project will address the key problem of the vulnerability of agriculture systems in climatic hot spot areas of the country. Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP talked about CSIAP on ITN FM at 7.55pm on 23rd  this month.

The project is fully integrated within the Government of Sri Lanka administration, and the project implementation is designed to capitalize on existing government agencies at all levels. The participating departments will carry out the project activities within their mandates, but coordinated by provincial DPD (Deputy Project Director) offices, with district units established at the Department of Agriculture (DoA)/Provincial Irrigation Department (PID)/Assistant Commissioner Agrarian Development (ACAD) offices and divisional units established at Agrarian Service Centers (ASCs).  Please click to listen: News of ITN FM yesterday (23rd). 

Introducing an Efficient Method to Prepare Nurseries for Seedling Broadcasting

Mrs. Samaraweera discusses nursery preparation with farmers, and a seedling  nursery is being prepared for broadcasting

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) introduced an efficient method of preparing nurseries for seedling broadcasting to farmers in identified hotspot areas. This practical demonstration was conducted in the Mahanikawewa and Ranorawa cascade systems in the Anuradhapura District, enabling farmers to gain hands-on experience with this climate-smart technique. 

Seedling Broadcasting as a Climate-Smart Technology
Seedling broadcasting is recognized as a climate-smart agricultural technology that offers an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional direct seeding. This method supports increased crop yields and improved quality while reducing production costs, input requirements, and negative environmental impacts. A key preparatory step in this process is raising healthy seedlings in a well-managed nursery before broadcasting them in the field.

Nursery Preparation Process
Under this method, pre-germinated seeds are sown on specially prepared trays, where they develop into healthy seedlings. Raising seedlings separately in a nursery ensures better initial growth and survival compared to direct seeding in the field. Once seedlings reach the appropriate stage, they are broadcast uniformly, supporting better crop establishment.

 Key Advantages of Nursery-Based Seedling Broadcasting
The nursery method offers several important benefits to farmers:
1.     Water Saving – Water use is reduced as seeds are converted into seedlings in a controlled nursery environment rather than in the field.
2.    Favourable Growth Conditions – Nurseries provide optimal conditions for early plant growth.
3.    Improved Plant Care – Managing seedlings in a small area makes it easier to protect young plants from pests, diseases, weeds, and pathogenic infections.
4.    Efficient Land Use – Nursery practices help maximize land productivity.
5.     Improved Crop Uniformity – Uniform seedlings contribute to even crop growth in the field.
6.    Reduced Field Management Costs – Strong, evenly grown seedlings lower labour and management requirements after establishment.
 
Technical Guidance and Participation
Mrs. Gourie Samaraweera, Deputy Director of Agriculture for Anuradhapura, provided detailed explanations and practical demonstrations on nursery preparation for seedling broadcasting. The event was attended by Mr. Lakshman Premanath, Deputy Project Director for the North Central Province, along with officials from the Provincial Department of Agriculture and CSIAP, highlighting strong institutional support for promoting climate-smart agricultural practices among farmers. 

A technical session of the 50th ISSSM conducted by CSIAP DPD Dr. Weerasinghe

Dr. Weerasinghe conducts the technical session 1

Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP (Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project) conducted the technical session 1: Advanced Technologies in Soil Fertility Management of the 50^th International Symposium on Sustainable Soil Management (ISSSM) held today (05^th) at National Agriculture Information and Communication Centre (NAICC), Peradeniya. Dr. W.M.W. Weerakoon, The Director General of Agriculture, of Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka will grace the event as the chief guest.

Dr. Weerasinghe receives a token of appreciation

The objective of this symposium is to provide scientific knowledge and technological interventions to promote beneficial management practices to sustain soil resource for the provision of food, income and a quality environment for people.

At the end of the session a token of appreciation was awarded to Dr. Weerasinghe by Mr. W.S.P.Y. Upali, General Secretary of Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka which is the main organizer of this event. Dr. Weerasinghe, who is a Principal Agriculture Scientist (Soil and Plant Nutrition), was the Director of the Horticulture Crops Research and Development Institute of the Department of Agriculture prior to his retirement. Dr. Weerasinghe obtained his BSc (Agri) from the University of Peradeniya, M Phil (Agric) from Wye College, the University of London and PhD ( Soil Science) from Punjab Agriculture University, India. He has published many scientific research articles and book chapters in both national and international journals.

Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture of University of Peradeniya, Department of Export Agriculture, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are joint organizers.

Introduction of Cono Weeder to Farmers in Anuradhapura

Farmers using Cono Weeder to manage weeds in the paddy field

The Cono Weeder, a manually operated machine designed for weeding paddy fields, has been introduced to farmers in hotspot areas by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The machine is currently in operation in Ranorawa, Anuradhapura, a key area under the CSIAP.

 The Cono Weeder works by uprooting weeds with its rotating teeth and burying them in the mud through simple push-and-pull movements. It is easy to operate manually, making it suitable even for heavy clay soils. By using the Cono Weeder, farmers can significantly reduce the need for herbicides, promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.

This initiative is implemented jointly by the CSIAP and the Department of Agriculture, aiming to improve paddy field management, reduce labour intensity, and enhance productivity in climatically vulnerable areas. 

Introduction of the Parachute Method by the CSIAP to Farmers in Hotspot Areas

Broadcasting of seedlings in the paddy field 

The Parachute Method, also known as Seedling Broadcasting, is a novel technique for establishing paddy fields and has been introduced to farmers in hotspot areas by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). This innovative technology allows 12–15-day-old seedlings, grown in small cell plastic nursery trays with mud, to be broadcast directly into paddy fields, simplifying the transplanting process.

The method is being promoted among paddy growers in Mahanikawewa and Ranorawa in Anuradhapura, key CSIAP areas. Project officials, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, are providing technical guidance and training to encourage farmers to adopt this efficient seedling establishment method. The Parachute Method helps reduce labor requirements, shortens the time for field establishment, and supports climate-smart paddy cultivation practices in vulnerable areas. 

World Bank specialists conduct a workshop on Social Safeguards

Both Dr. Wickramasinghe and Mr. Fernando are addressing participants

Two World Bank Specialists Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, Consultant (Social Safeguard) and Mr. Shanek Fernando, Specialist (Social Safeguards) conducted a workshop on Identifying and Addressing Social Impacts for CSIAP (Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project) Interventions or Climatic Hot-spot Area Development held today (02nd) at CBS, Rajagiriya.

This two-day workshop, which started today, was organized by Ms. Sharmila Shanmuganathan, Social Safeguards and Gender Development Officer of PMU (Project Management Unit), CSIAP. The PMU and DPDO (Deputy Project Director Office) staff participated in this workshop.