Dr. Weerasinghe conducting the session with Eng. Sivalingam, and Mr Manoharan seated beside them
The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) has initiated plans to launch a Cluster Village Programme in each district where the project is currently being implemented. This programme targets pre-determined hotspot areas across eleven districts, namely Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Monaragala, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara
Objective of the Cluster Village Programme
The main objective of the Cluster Village Programme is
to develop model cluster villages in hotspot areas by promoting market-driven
crop cultivation using Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices. The
initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen farmer
incomes, and improve climate resilience while ensuring the sustainability of
natural resources.
Discussion with World Bank and CSIAP Officials
A special discussion on the Cluster Village Programme
was recently held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 07, with the
participation of World Bank officials and the CSIAP staff. The discussion focused
on implementation strategies, institutional coordination, and expected outcomes
of the programme.
The discussion was conducted by Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP, who facilitated in-depth deliberations on the proposed Cluster Village Programme. Dr. Weerasinghe outlined the programme framework, implementation mechanisms, and expected outcomes, while encouraging active engagement from both the CSIAP staff and World Bank representatives. The CSIAP team was led by Eng. Nadaraja Sivalingam, Project Director of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), provided overall leadership and strategic direction for the discussion. Representing the World Bank, Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Task Team Leader of the CSIAP and Senior Rural Development Specialist, emphasised the importance of integrating climate-smart agriculture practices with market-oriented approaches to ensure sustainable livelihoods in hotspot areas.
Specific Objectives Discussed
During the
discussion, several specific objectives of the Cluster Village Programme were
outlined, including:
- Establishing 11 Climate
Smart Production Villages, one in each selected district.
- Modifying 47 Agriculture
Service Centers to function as efficient and effective one-stop service
centers for farmers.
- Renovating water bodies in
11 selected villages to improve water availability and management.
- Establishing Haritha Uyana
to promote environmentally friendly and green village concepts.
- Appraising and rewarding 11
farmers—one from each village—for adopting best Climate Smart Agriculture
practices.
- Training 110 selected
farmers from the 11 villages on entrepreneurship development using the Farmer
Business School methodology.
- Forming 22 Producer Groups
across the 11 villages and enhancing leadership and management skills of
their leaders.
- Introducing 11 potential
market linkage avenues to farmers through producer groups.
- Promoting five
water-saving techniques and rainwater harvesting methods among farmers
during the Yala season.
- Establishing 22
market-driven CSA crops in the 11 selected villages during the Yala and
Maha seasons of 2020.
Representing the
World Bank, Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne, Consultant, and Mr. V. Mohamed Ameen,
Consultant (Financial Management) also participated in this event.
