Friday 30 July 2021

The CSIAP accelerates its activities in hot spot areas of 11 districts

The World Bank officials in Sri Lanka advised the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) to speed up the CSIAP’s activities in the 11 districts to meet objectives. The World Bank team headed by Mr. S. Manoharan, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP,  pointed out that project activities are playing a key role in the development of Agriculture and Irrigation sectors in Sri Lanka. He advised officials of the CSIAP to take every step to expedite the implementation of project activities in hots spot areas of 11 districts.
The activism of the project will contribute to the development of Sri Lanka, TTL further added.

This special meeting was held at the Project Management unit, CSIAP, Colombo today (30th).  Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP, Senior Officials of the World Bank and CSIAP were present at the meeting. The CSIAP is a World Bank funded project implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The CSIAP speeds up tank rehabilitations to boost the irrigation sector in the NWP

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) reviewed the current progress of its activities and scheduled to speed up tank rehabilitation in the North Western Province.

The CSIAP came to this decision at a special meeting with Mr. P.B.M. Sirisena, Chief Secretary, North Western Province (NWP) held at the Chief Secretary Office, NWP recently. The CSIAP is moving forward in the NWP with the fullest cooperation of government officials.

Mr. J. S. Jayatissa, Director, Provincial Department of Irrigation, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Mr. O. P. Kithsiri, Deputy Project Director (NWP) and senior officials of the CSIAP attended this meeting.  

Friday 23 July 2021

The upliftment of agriculture today is of paramount importance: PD, CSIAP

Engineer R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP, advised CSIAP’s Provincial Deputy Project Directors (PDPD) to take initiatives to speed up project activities in the six provinces to reach expected goals. The implementation of this project will lead to a prosperous future for the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka and boost the livelihoods of benefice farmers, Project Director Further added. Six PDPDs pointed out the current progress of the project in North Western, North Central, North, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces. This special discussion was held at Project Management Unit (PMU), Colombo this week. The Senior officials of PMU and PDPD’s offices were present in this discussion.

Thursday 22 July 2021

The CSIAP reviews and expedites its activities in the NWP with DAD officials

The CSIAP's new Project Director Engineer R.M.B. Rajakaruna addresses the audience 
The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) reviewed its activities in the North Western Province (NWP) and determined to accelerate them with the Department of Agrarian Development (DAD).  The top officials of the CSIAP and DAD came to this decision on a special workshop held at  the  National Agrarian Training Center, Pothuhera, recently. The DAD closely associates with the CSIAP to implement CSIAP’s activities at the Agrarian Service Center level (ASC).  On behalf of CSIAP, Project Director R.M.B. Rajakaruna , Deputy Project Director (NWP) Mr. O. P. Kithsiri, Consultant Engineer U.N. Walisundara and senior officials of the CSIAP, and Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathne, Commissioner General and senior officials of DAD attended this workshop.

Saturday 17 July 2021

The CSIAP distributes 600kg of Green Gram Seeds and liquid biofertilizer

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project distributed 600kg of Green Gram seeds  valued at Rs 592,900 to farmers in Ambanpola ASC area, Kurunegal Districts  for Mid-Season cultivation on 13th  this week. The CSIAP contributed 50% of the total value of Green Grams and the rest was done by the beneficiary farmers. In addition to that the CSIAP provided farmers with Rs: 60,000 of liquid bio fertilizer free of charge.

The above event and commencing with rehabilitating the Palapathwala tank in Kurunegala took place simultaneously under the patronage of under the patronage of Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Agriculture.

This programme was organized by the CSIAP's Deputy Project Director in the North Western Province (NWP) Mr. O.P. Kithsiri and his staff. The Governor of NWP Hon. Raja Kollure, Hon state Ministers D.B Hearth,  reginal politicians and government officials, officials of CSIAP, farmers from Palapathwala cascade and Dathava cascade attended this event.

Friday 16 July 2021

The CSIAP promotes Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices in Kurunegala

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)  takes initiatives to promote  Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices to avoid using weedicides and pesticides in Kurunegala Districts with the support of  the provincial Department of Agriculture.

The CSA practices were demonstrated at the Medagama farm, Galgamuw on 13th this month. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage and top politicians and government officials observed this demonstration. This programme was organized by the CSIAP's Deputy Project Director in the North Western Province (NWP) Mr. O.P. Kithsiri and his staff.


 

Demonstration of Organic Fertilizers and Organic Pesticides in Galgamuva

In order to promote Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) organized a demonstration of Organic Fertilizers and Organic Pesticides  at the Medagama farm, Galgamuva with the support of  the provincial Department of Agriculture on 13th this week. The Minister of Agriculture Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage and top politicians and government officials observed this demonstration. 

This programme was organized by the CSIAP's Deputy Project Director in the North Western Province (NWP) Mr. O.P. Kithsiri and his staff.  

The 14 Soil Testing Kits valued at Rs: 1.4m given to AIs in Kurunegala

The 14 soil testing kits valued at Rs 1.4 million are given to Agriculture Instructors (AIs) in Kurunegala by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) funded by the World Bank at Medagama farm, Galgamuva on 13th this week. On behalf of the CSIAP 
 the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage handed soil testing kits to AIs.

This programme was organized by the CSIAP's Deputy Project Director in the North Western Province (NWP) Mr. O.P. Kithsiri and his staff. The Governor of NWP  Hon. Raja Kollure, Hon state Ministers D.B Hearth, Hon. MP Asanka Nawarathna, Hon MP Manjula Dissanayake, top level politicians and government officials, officials of CSIAP, farmers from Palapathwala cascade, Rajanganaya area attended this event.

Thursday 15 July 2021

The Fertilizer Store built by the CSIAP was open at Rajanganaya ASC, Kurunegala

The fertilizer store built by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) was open by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage on 13th this  week. The CSIAP spent over Rs 7 million to renovate Rajanganaya ASC, fertilizer store and and improve saniter facilities.

This programme was organized by the CSIAP's Deputy Project Director in the North Western Province (NWP) Mr. O.P. Kithsiri and his staff. The Governor of NWP  Hon. Raja Kollure, Hon state Ministers D.B Hearth, Hon. MP Asanka Nawarathna, Hon MP Manjula Dissanayake, top level politicians and government officials, officials of CSIAP, farmers from Palapathwala cascade, Rajanganaya area attended this event.

The CSIAP commences with rehabilitating the Palapathwala Tank in Kurunegala

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) started rehabilitating the Palapathwala tank in Kurunegala this Tuesday (13th) under the patronage of under the patronage of Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Agriculture. Bund forming, tank deepening, sluice repairing and catchment development will be carried out under this rehabilitation. The Palapathwala tank will be used to supply adequate water for cultivation in the area. the rehabilitation of tank-based irrigated agricultural systems is key to improving the resilience of these areas and the agrarian communities that depend on them.

 The CSIAP plans to rehabilitate 1200 tanks in 
its command areas of 11 districts in six provinces. This programme was organized by the CSIAP's Deputy Project Director in the North Western Province (NWP) Mr. O.P. Kithsiri and his staff. The Governor  of NWP Hon. Raja Kollure, Hon state Ministers D.B Hearth, Hon. MP Asanka Nawarathna, Hon MP Manjula Dissanayake, top level politicians and government officials, officials of CSIAP, farmers from Palapathwala cascade, Ambanpola attended this event.

Thursday 8 July 2021

The current status and future plans of the CSIAP discussed

 

special discussion about the current status and future plans of the CSIAP was held under the patronage of Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Agriculture,  yesterday (07th) at the Ministry of Agriculture.

 The World Bank Officials, Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe, Secretary & Officials of Ministry of Agriculture, Chief Secretaries & representatives of North Western, North Central, Northern, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces, Senior Officials of Department of Agriculture, Project Director, Deputy Project Director & Provincial Deputy Project Directors, CSIAP attended this discussion.


The progress of the modernization of ASCs in the CSIAP command area reviewed

A special discussion about the modernization of Agrarian Sevice Centers (ASCs)  in the CSIAP command area was held between top officials of the Department of Agrarian Development (DAD) and the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) was held at DAD Head Office  Colombo Yesterday (08th).

Under the modernization, the CSIAP is involved in developing the ASC as a One-Stop Service Centre, which provides modern services to the farmers to become resilient to the changing climate situation and thereby to overcome the issues hinder their productivity. The major interventions are;

 ·       Renovating, expanding and refurbishing existing 47 office buildings of the ASCs within areas of the CSIAP to function as an attractive and productive One-stop Service Centers. The estimated of the above civil work is  Rs. 336.18 M.

·       Establishing full pledged ICT unit within each of the 47 ASC with trained officials and the necessary equipment to provide required data related to weather forecast, market, new technology for farmers under digitalization of ASC. The estimated total cost of this to pilot in 02 ASCs (Parangiyawadiya of Anuradhapura District and Weerawila of Hambantota District) out of 47 ASCs is Rs 8,159,333.00. The CSIAP will contribute Rs: 6.68M. while the DAD will provide Rs 1,47M. It is expected to extend the implementation of this in rest of the 45 ASCs in the next year

·       Establishing a Farm Machinery Hub (FMU) in each of the 47 ASC managed by the Agrarian Development Committee (ADC) of the ASC to prevent exploitation of farmers from the middlemen and also to provide an opportunity for the Agrarian Committee to develop the Agrarian Fund.The total estimated cost of this to pilot in 02 ASCs (Parangiyawadiya of Anuradhapura District and Weerawila of Hambantota District) out of 47 ASCs is approximately Rs 240M. It is expected to extend the implementation of this in rest of the 45 ASCs in the next year.

Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Acting Project Director and Provincial Deputy Project Directors, CSIAP,  Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathna, Commissioner General and senior officials, DAD were present in this discussion.

Sunday 4 July 2021

The 11 more Soil Testing Kits valued at Rs: 1.1m given to AIs by the CSIAP

An AI receive a soil testing kit from the Chief Guset Mr. AnuraWijeyathunga
The 11 more soil testing kits valued at Rs 1.1 million are given to Agriculture Instructors (AIs) in Ampara by the
Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) funded by the World Bank at the District Agriculture Training Centre, Department of Agriculture (DoA): Inter Provincial, Addalachenai, Ampara, last week. This event was held under the patronage of Mr. Anura Wijeyathunga, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Agriculture Technology), Ministry of Agriculture.  

On behalf of the CSIAP, Mr. Anura Wijeyathunga, Mr. M.F.A. Zaneer, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Inter Provincial), DoA, Ampara and Mr.  Jude Chrishanta, Agriculture Specialist, CSIAP handed soil testing kits over to AIs.

Mrs. Renuka De Silva, Soil Scientist, Horticulture Research and Development Institute (HORDI), DoA, Gannoruwa, conducted a training program on the use of Soil Testing kits for AIs. The goal of soil testing is to provide an accurate assessment of the soil's fertility to make fertilizer recommendations for farmers in the CSIAP command area.  The first sets of 10 soil testing kits valued at 1 million were given to AIs in Batticaloa district recently by the Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Agriculture. Officials at HORDI and Department of Agriculture and Technical Assistants were present at the ceremony. 

AIs obtain soil testing kists from Mr. M.F.A. Zaneer and Mr. Jude Chrishanta, and Mrs. Renuka De Silva conducts the training programme on the use of soil testing kits