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.