The CSIAP rehabilitates 32 Agro Wells in Uva Province at the cost of Rs. 9.6m

Mrs. V.G Ramani of Andawelayaya and Mr. M.H. Charlis of Neluwagala look on their Agro Wells 

Farmer Ramani cultivates turmeric with water obtained from her Agro Well

Plans of Deputy Project Director’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in Uva Province are underway to rehabilitate dilapidated 32 Agro Wells under the first phase to enable farmers to cultivate crops such as other field, fruits & vegetables and plantation in Buttala, Wellawaya and Thelulla Agrarian Service Center areas of Monaragala District throughout the year.  

Rehabilitation of 28 agricultural wells have been started and 07 of them are already completed. The estimated cost of this programme is Rs. 9.6 million and Rs. 4.44 million has been paid to the beneficiaries. The 50% contribution will be given by the project subject to a maximum limit of Rs.300,000.00. Agro Wells are used as precious groundwater resources to overcome the problem of water shortage in the dry zones of Sri Lanka.

The Physical & Financial Progress Review Meeting commences at the PMU

A very special meeting to discuss the progress achieved up to 28th  Nov 2021  and financial & physical targets, which are expected to complete in Dec 2021, is being held at the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The CSIAP’s top officials including Provincial Deputy Directors, Subject Specialists attend this meeting which is chaired by the Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna.

The CSIAP lifts living standards of farmers with their cultivation - A Success Story

The CSIAP's Agriculture Specialist Ms. G.C.A. Gunawardena instructs  farmer Jinasiri in his field

Farming is the main livelihood in Senapura village, located in the Weerawila Agriculture Service Center area, Hambantota. Mr. S. Jinasiri (67) is one of famers who lives in Senapura village, Weerawila. Together with his wife and two sons, he planted Chilis, Green Gram and Sesame in his land under the support, technical guidance and right direction of the Deputy Project Director’s Office (Southern) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). Before the CSIAP arrived in his village, the revenue he earned was just enough to pay for his family’s daily needs. 

In the Yala season, he adopted Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices such as crop diversification (Green Gram) in the paddy land, making soil contour bunds in his all land area covering 10 acre field, making little plots in between contour lines as a water harvesting technique covering entire land, increasing the use of water efficiency by the sprinkler irrigation system and applying organic manure and mulching introduced by the CSIAP.

Under the Seed Production Village Programme, he cultivated Green Gram given by the CSIAP in his  02 acre land and produced 550kg of quality seeds. Subsequently, farmer Jinasiri sold 1kg of seeds at Rs. 650 and earned Rs.357,500. This energetic farmer was interested in expanding his cultivation furthermore in the same season with the support of the CSIAP. He started cultivating chilis in his 0.25 acer land after obtaining standard chilli seeds (variety KA2) from the CSIAP. Not only that, he used his own sprinkler irrigation system to increase the use of water efficiency too. This farmer will expect 500kg of Green Chilis and anticipates an income of around Rs.250,000.

Farmer Jinasiri is preparing his land

Finally, farmer Jinasiri adapted CSA technologies and practices such as preparing land with initial rain, crop cultivation is done only using rainwater without using water stored at the tank, cultivating suitable verities for the area and the cropping season, seeding with the initial rains in the season, practising Integrated Pest Management (IPM), constructing contour soil bunds for soil erosion control, implementing rainwater harvesting techniques and maintaining plant density by thinning out in the Maha Season 2021/2022  to cultivate Sesame (Variety:  Uma) in his  01 acre  land. He assumes  350kg of Sesame harvest and expects Rs: 175,000.

The CSIAP is taking steps forward furthermore to make the agriculture sector more productive, sustainable and resilient for the betterment of farmers living in hotspot areas where the CSIAP is being implemented.

The CSIAP rehabilitates 34 Agro Wells in Southern Province to boost the agriculture

 Farmer Mr. Sugathadasa used his Agro Well to cultivate paddy and chillies

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) begins to rehabilitate 34 Agro Wells in the Weerawila Agrarian Services Division of the Lunugamvehera Divisional Secretariat Division with the financial assistance of the World Bank. the Deputy Project Director’s Office of the CSIAP in Southern Province has already commenced rehabilitation works and the Estimated cost for this programme is Rs. 10.2 million. Farmer Mr. Sugathadasa who is in the picture used his Agro Well, which was rehabilitated by the CSIAP, to cultivate paddy and chilies in  01 acre land and the CSIAP provided  Rs. 300,000 for this.

The CSIAP schedules to rehabilitate 84 tanks in Hambantota estimated at Rs.156M

The rehabilitation works on the Ranawaranawa tank and canal system in the Weerawila Agrarian Service Division are now underway

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) schedules to rehabilitate 84 tanks in 22 selected Grama Niladhari Divisions of Lunugamvehera and Tissamaharama Divisional Secretariats in the Hambantota District at the cost of Rs 158 million.  Under this, rehabilitation work on 22 tanks began this year by the Deputy Project Director’s Office of the CSIAP in Southern Province. The World Bank provides financial assistance for this programme.

The rehabilitation works on the Ranawaranawa tank and canal system in the Weerawila Agrarian Service Division, which belongs to the Lunugamvehera Divisional Secretariat area, are now underway. The estimated value of this is Rs 15.6 million and it is expected to provide water to 40 farmers for cultivation in both Yala and Maha seasons.

The CSIAP provides 234 farmers with 2,200 kg of maize seeds valued at Rs. 2.17m

Happy farmers who are standing in the maize field

Amid the despair and distraught being left behind by the coronavirus pandemic, the farming community in  Mahadiulwewa Agriculture Instructor Range (Segment D) of Pannakulam ASC Division, Trincomalee, has been providing some ray of hope ensuring the production of Maize in the Maha season 2021/22. The CSIAP’s Deputy Project Director's office in Eastern Province provided 234 farmers including 99 women farmers with 2,200 kg of maize seeds at a cost of Rs. 2,178,000.00 on 75% concessionary basis to cultivate in 440 acres. Maize seeds given were distributed among four Other Field Crops Produce Societies of Savipala, Ekamuthu, Miriswewa and Rotawewa formed in Mahadiulwewa Agriculture Instructor Range (Segment D).

This maize cultivation has shown that achieving high yields and high efficiencies, together with correct technical instructions are possible when applied inputs are precisely managed in time and space. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important annual cereal crops in Sri Lanka, providing a staple food, and is used as a source of income for farmers in many areas where the CSIAP is being implemented.  The way maize is processed and consumed greatly varies and maize flour and meal are the most popular products in Sri Lanka.

The CSIAP provides Rs: 45.6m for renovating 152 Argo wells in Eastern Province

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) commences renovating 152 Agro wells in Eastern Province at the cost of Rs. 45.6m.  Under this, 78 Agro wells in Trincomalee, 29 Agro wells in Batticaloa  and 45 Agro wells in Ampara will be renovated. The event of making payments for farmers to renovate their    Agro wells  was held at the Divisional Secretariate, Morawewa recently under the patronage of Hon. Kapila Nuwan Athukorala, Parlimentarian, and Chairman of District Coordinating Committee, Trincomalee District. 

The scarcity of water for the cultivation in the Yala season is a major issue of farmers in the hotspot areas of Eastern Province. Agro wells are one of the major solutions to overcome water shortage in the dry season and this was identified by CSIAP during the Participatory Rural Appraisal at the field level. Agro wells are provided with supplementary irrigation for Other Field Crops (OFC) cultivation in the Yala season. On the other hand, farmers of some area of the Eastern Province used to cultivate OFC by means of Agro well as a major water source throughout the year and they could go for high-value crops, especially to cultivate in the off-season which will lead to high income. This can also affect the price fluctuation of certain crops affecting positively to consumers.

 Mr. Saman Dharshana Pandikorala,Goventment Agent, Trincomalee, Mr. W.M.Bhathiya Vijayantha, Divisional Secretary, Morawewa, Mr. S.M.G.Samarakoon, Divisional Secretary, Gomarankadawala,  Mr. W.R.Jagath Kumara, Pradesa Saba Chairman, Morawewa, Mr. L.B Chandana Vijitha Kumara Pradesa Saba Chairman, Gomarankadawela, CSIAP officers and members of Farmer Organizations and beneficiaries of Agro wells  attended on this occasion.       

 Dr. R. M. Ariyadasa, the Deputy Project Director, Eastern Province of the CSIAP organized the above programme  with the support of Divisional Secretaries of Morewewa and Gomarankadawala. 

Constructions of the Farm Field School at a cost of Rs: 117m at Thirappane in NCP

Dr. Milinda Pathiraja expalins his design

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) under the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the preliminary work of constructing a Farm Field School (FFS) at Mannakkulama village of Thirappane in Anuradhapura District in this month. The proposed school will train farmers in 11 districts of the six provinces (North Western, North Central, Northern, Eastern, Uva and Southern Provinces) where the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project being implemented and provide them with experience in climate change farming practices and technology. The FFS will cost Rs. 117 million which is funded by the World Bank.

The 2700 selected male and female farmers, 150 Extension Staff of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Development will be direct beneficiaries of the FFS, which is designed to be environmentally friendly and adapt to the farming environment, said Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, the CSIAP Project Director. The FFS will be also used to provide training for marketing and value addition, subjects coming under the Agrarian Business School to prepare farmers as entrepreneurs and Farm planning, he further added.

The design of the Farm Field School

The FFS will provide short-term courses such as the Training of Trainers programme for the officials and a general training programme for the farmers. Those courses will cover Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices that can be applied in both Maha and Yala seasons in hot-spot areas, wetland paddy cultivation, upland cultivation, homestead cultivation and for the other field crops (OFCs). Dr. Milinda Pathiraja, who took over the architectural design of the Farm Field School, provides his services free of charge with his team.