Activities of CSNSHG and CVDP for the betterment of Sri Lanka

Mr Sisira Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist

Women farmers are provided greater access to agriculture expertise, participation in local cultivation planning and decision making under Climate Smart Nutrient Sensitive Home Garden (CSNSHG); they are also provided adequate representation at all levels in relevant planning and decision making addressing the gender gap. CSNSHG is identified as the women farmer-based activity targeting to empower women farmers

A cluster village is an area where farmers are cultivation same crop or crop combinations following the Climate Smart Practices under the Cluster Village Development Programe (CVDP) . Cluster Village hence act as a Climate smart model village for farmers in hot spot areas and act as a information exchange and feedback receival village on Climate Smart Agriculture providing greater learning experience for farmers. The basic idea of each Cluster Village is to increase farmer income, applying all possible Climate Smart Agriculture practices. 

Mr Sisira Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist, Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) explained the current status of both CSNSHG and CVDP, which is being implemented by CSIAP , in an exclusive interview with Lakhanda Radio on 29^th this month.

Please click Lakhnda Radio to listen .

Harvesting under Yala 2020 to strengthen food production in Sri Lanka

Harvesting of cultivation in hotspot areas in 11 districts of six  provinces  in the dry zone of Sri Lanka under  Yala 2020 food production program launched by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) has been broadcasted by national Radios.  The news was in the main news bulletins of Sinhala, Tamil  and English services of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Services and Lakhanda Radio of Independent Television Network today (24^th).

Yala 2020 food production programme goes in line with the programme of the Implementation Ministry in promotion of food crops cultivation in the Yala 2020 season to overcome possible food shortage that could surface out owing to COVID 19 pandemic. It focuses on the promotion of Other Field Crops Cultivation following Climate Smart Agriculture Practices  in hot spot areas of 11 districts as from the food crops sector Other field crops occupy the highest share of importation at present. 

More than 7000 farmers affected by climate changes in Hambantota, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Kurunegala and Monaragala  have been selected for the above purpose. Cultivation is being carried out on 3635 acres and it is expected to produce nearly 8000 tons of OFCs.  Groundnut, green gram, cowpea, chilli, maize, soya, red onion, kurakkan, sesame and Blake Gram are grown under this programme. The  CSAIP contribution to this project is Rs 115.12M..8M.
Please click to listen:Lakhanda Radio, Sinhala Services at SLBC, Tamil Services at SLBC and  English services st SLBC

An Awareness Programme on the CSNSHG for Gov.Officers in Buttala

An awareness programme on the Climate Smart Nutrient Sensitive Home Garden (CSNSHG), for officers in Buttala and Welaway Divisional Secretariats Areas, Uva Province was held at the Divisional Secretariats, Buttala on 21st this month.  Climate Smart Nutrient Sensitive Home Garden is a very special programme that has been planned to implement with 2695 women farmers is aiming to increase the nutrition level of the farming families to ensure adequate immunity level to face COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mr. I. H. Dharmasekara, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP is addressing the audience

This program is implemented in all 11 districts to establish 2695 sustainable home gardens applying Climate Smart practices to provide nutrient enrich diet to farmers. CSNSHG is in line with the “Saubagya Gewaththa” implemented by the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development Mr. S. K . Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist at Project Management Unit and Dr.Y. Ketipearachchi, Agriculture Specialist in Uva Province, CSIAP delivered lectures to educate officers too.

Officers of Department Agriculture (Provincial Uva), Department of Agriculture (Inter Provincial-Uva), Agrarian Services Department (Wellawaya, Buttala, Thelulla) and Divisional Secretariats Offices (Buttala, Wellwaya) attended this programme.

Mr. S. K . Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist, Mrs. S. M. S. Udayangani, Assistant Director, Department of Agriculture, Mr. H.K. P Jayalath, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture(Provincial-Uva), Mrs. K, A. R. M, Karunanayakr, Assistant Director (Planning), Divisional Secretariat, Buttala and   Dr. Y. Ketipearachchi, Agriculture Specialist CSIAP were at the head table while Mr. I. H. Dharmasekara, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP is addressing the audience.

The first groundnut harvest at the Nediyamadu Cluster Village in Batticaloa

Symbolically, the District Secretary receives  the first groundnut harvest

The commencement of first groundnut harvesting at the Nediyamadu Cluster Village in Batticaloa was ceremonially held under the “Field Day” programme on the 10th  this month. The event took place under the patronage of Mrs. Kalamathy Pathmarjah, District Secretary of Batticaloa. Symbolizing the success of the cultivation effort, the first harvest of groundnuts from the village was formally presented to the District Secretary.  

Dignitaries in Attendance
Mr. S. Suthakar, Divisional Secretary of Manmunai West, and Mrs. Sasikala Punniyamoorthy, Director (Planning), Batticaloa District Secretariat, attended the occasion as Guests of Honour. Their presence highlighted the strong institutional support extended to the farming community in the area.

Technical Demonstrations for Farmers
As part of the Field Day activities, Mr. K. Vishnukaran, Technical Assistant of the SLGAP Division, Department of Agriculture, conducted practical demonstrations for farmers. He shared best practices on achieving higher yields in groundnut cultivation and methods to prevent and control insect pests that damage crops.

 

The CSIAP Support Boosts Groundnut Cultivation

The Field Day Demonstration

Groundnuts were cultivated over an extent of 50 acres in Nediyamadu village by 50 farm families with the direct support of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), funded by the World Bank. The project provided comprehensive assistance, including quality seed material and technical guidance, ensuring the success of the cultivation programme. 

Formation of Groundnut Producer Society

In view of the large number of farmers involved, the “Nediyamadu Groundnut Producer Society” was established and registered under the Department of Agriculture. The society is expected to strengthen collective action, improve market access, and promote sustainable groundnut production in the area. 

Dr. R.M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in the Eastern Province, along with his team, organized the event. Mr. Amal Arunapriya, Institutional & Capacity Building Specialist at the PMU of CSIAP, participated, alongside 60 officers from the Manmunai West Divisional Secretariat, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Agrarian Development, as well as 50 local groundnut farmers.