Farming
is the main livelihood in Senapura village, located in the Weerawila
Agriculture Service Center area of Hambantota. Mr. S. Jinasiri (67) is one of
the farmers who depends on agriculture for his family’s income. Together with
his wife and two sons, he cultivates chili, green gram, and sesame on his land.
Prior to the intervention of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project
(CSIAP), his earnings were barely sufficient to meet the family’s daily needs. With
the technical guidance and continuous support of the Deputy Project Director’s
Office (Southern Province), Mr. Jinasiri was introduced to improved farming
methods that helped transform his livelihood.Agriculture Specailist Ms. Gunawardena, providing field-level guidance to farmer Jinasiri
Adopting
Climate-Smart Agriculture
During
the Yala season, Mr. Jinasiri adopted several Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
technologies promoted by the CSIAP. These included crop diversification by
introducing green gram into paddy lands, construction of soil contour bunds
across his entire 10-acre field, and the creation of small plots between
contour lines for rainwater harvesting. He also improved water-use efficiency
through a sprinkler irrigation system and enhanced soil fertility by applying
organic manure and mulching.
Empowering
Farmers Through Expert Support
Agriculture
Specialist Ms. G.C.A. Gunawardena of the
Deputy Director’s Office of the CSIAP in Southern Provincial Office provided technical
guidance on CSA practices, offered continuous encouragement to farmers adopting
new technologies, and assisted them in overcoming challenges in production and
management. Her active involvement helped build farmers’ confidence,
strengthen their skills, and ensured that project interventions were
implemented effectively at the field level.
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| Farmer Jinasiri preparing his land |
Increasing
Income through Improved Practices
Under
the Seed Production Village Programme of the CSIAP, Mr. Jinasiri cultivated
green gram on 2 acres using seeds supplied by the CSIAP and produced 550 kg of
quality seed. By selling the produce at Rs. 650 per kilogram, he earned Rs.
357,500, marking a significant increase in his farm income.
Encouraged
by this success, he expanded his cultivation during the same season. With CSIAP
support, he cultivated chili (variety KA2) on 0.25 acres, using his sprinkler
irrigation system to maximize water efficiency. He now expects a harvest of 500
kg of green chilies, with an anticipated income of approximately Rs. 250,000.
Sustaining
Gains in the Maha Season
In
the Maha season 2021/2022, Mr. Jinasiri applied CSA practices to cultivate
sesame (variety Uma) on 1 acre of land. He prepared the field using initial
rains, relied entirely on rainwater, practiced Integrated Pest Management
(IPM), constructed contour bunds to control soil erosion, implemented rainwater
harvesting techniques, and maintained plant density through thinning. He
expects a harvest of 350 kg of sesame, generating an income of around Rs.
175,000.
Building
a Resilient Future
Through
targeted interventions, the CSIAP continues to make agriculture more
productive, sustainable, and climate-resilient, improving the livelihoods of
farmers living in climate-vulnerable hotspot areas across the country.
