The World Bank’s officials lay foundation stones for the FFS at Thirappane

Country Director and Country Manager unveil the plaque of FFS

Mr. Faris. H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director, the World Bank, laid the foundation stones for the Farmer Field School (FFS)  of the  Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)  alone with Ms. Chiyo Kanda, Country Manager and other world bank officials  yesterday (22) at Thirappane in Anuradhapura District

The CSIAP  has started to develop a simple, but fully-fledged the FFS named as Govipole Iskole or Wivasaya Patashala at Mannakulama Village of Thirappane in Anuradhapura District in a state land at close proximity to Wagayakulama Tank. The Farm Field School (FFS) of the CSIAP will be used to train farmers and extension officers in hotspot areas to give hands-on experience on Climate Smart Agriculture practices and technologies. It is expected to train  2,700 farmer leaders and 200 extension officers. The CSIAP will bear Rs 146.7 M from the total project cost of Rs 163.2 M of the project.

The FFS has been designed to fit into a  farming environment protecting environmental sustainability and will accommodate a maximum of 25 participants at a time. This FFS is located approximately 30km  South of Anuradhapura town in the North Central Province. It falls under the Thirappane Divisional Secretariat Division and the Thirappeney Agrarian Service Division.

Dr. Milinda Pathiraja of the University of Moratuwa did the architectural design of the  FFS.  Department of Agriculture is collaborating with the CSIAP in this project and will continue to engage in building the capacity of farmers and extension officers after the project.

Architect Mr. Sivayogaraj  explains the architectural design of the FFS and invitees enjoy traditional Sri Lankan sweets

The World Bank Country Director and other officials were welcomed by Eng. R.M. B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, staff of the CSIAP and farmers, and escorted to the ceremonial ground by a cultural procession. The Country Director and Country Manager unveiled the plaque to commence the construction work of the FFS there. Secondly, distinguished guests planted saplings to remark the event and laid foundation stones with the Project Director, CSIAP and farmers. The project Director of CSIAP made the welcome speech and Country Director addressed the audience. Both male and female farmers had an opportunity to express their ideas on FFS to world bank officials. Architect Mr. Sajith Sivayogaraj explained the architectural design of the FFS. The CSIAP’s North Central Province (NCP) led by Mr. Lakshman Premanath, Deputy Project Director (NCP) and his staff organized the above event. All participants were treated with traditional Sri Lankan sweets. 

The Country Director and Country Manager unveiled the plaque to commence the construction work of the FFS there. Secondly, distinguished guests planted saplings to the remark event with the Project Director, CSIAP and farmers, laid foundation stones

Escorting to the ceremonial ground, laying foundation stones and planting saplings

. The project Director of CSIAP made the welcome speech and Country Director addressed the audience. Both male and female farmers had an opportunity to express their ideas on FFS to world bank officials. Architect Mr. Sajith Sivayogaraj explained the architectural design of the FFS. The CSIAP’s North Central Province (NCP) led by Mr. Lakshman Premanath, Deputy Project Director (NCP) and his staff organized the above event. All participants were treated with traditional Sri Lankan sweets. 

Mr. S.Manoharan, Senior Consultant (Agriculture, Food & Rural Development), Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist, Asela Dissanayake, Senior Operations Officer representing the World Bank office-Sri Lanka, representatives of the implementing agencies, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Directors from the Project Mnagment Unit and Provincial Offices, Specialist, other staff of the CSIAP and farmers were present in this ceremony.

Story and Photographs by Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist, PMU, CSIAP