The 06th National Project Steering Committee Meeting of the CSIAP commences

The 06th National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) Meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is being held this morning (15th) at the Ministry of Agriculture. The NPSC meeting is chaired by Mr. D. M.L. Bandaranayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture. The NPSC is set up at the Ministry of Agriculture to take the overall responsibility in executing the CSIAP. The NPSC will consist of key officials of the major stakeholder agencies of the central government, and provincial government mainly to provide policy guidance to the project and to ensure achieving CSIAP’s objectives.

The World Bank Officials joined the meeting remotely, and Chief Secretaries of provinces where the CSIAP is being implemented, Heads of Government Departments, Senior Officials of implementing agencies, Project Director, Provincial Deputy Project Directors and senior officials of the CSIAP were also present in this meeting. Please click NPSC to see images of the meeting

The Chief Secretaries Meeting of the CSIAP’s areas commences at the MoA

The Chief Secretaries Meeting of the six provinces, where the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is being implemented, has been held this morning (15th) at the Ministry of Agriculture under the patronage of Mr. D. M.L. Bandaranayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture. Secretaries representing North Western, North Central, Northern, Eastern, Uva and Southern, top officials of the ministry, Project directors, Provincial Deputy Project Directors and senior officials of the CSIAP were also present in this meeting. Please click Images to see events of the meeting.

The CSIAP's Tree Planting Programme on Sri Lanka's 74th Independence Day

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) initiated a tree-planting programme at the provincial level covering 11 districts, where the CSIAP is being implemented, on 04th  this month to mark Sri Lanka’s 74th Independence Day. Over 1000 trees, which included Mango, Orange, Kaya, Mee, Kumbuk, Jack Fruits, Pomegranate and Lemon trees, were planted on this day.

Climate change impacts have greatly affected Sri Lanka in terms of flooding, drought and food insecurity. To address this situation, the CSIAP’s Tree Planting Programme represents an excellent way of contributing to the much-needed reforestation. Caring for trees and the environment are the social responsibility of every individual. The Tree Planting Programme of the CSIAP was a platform for those, who are in hot spot areas where the CSIAP is being implemented, to actively participate in the greening of the country by planting trees.

Please click NWP and EP to watch the visuals of the Tree Planting Programme held in North Western and Eastern Provinces and click NP,  UP, SP, EP and NWP to see images of this programme held in Northern, Uva, Southern, Eastern and North Western Provinces.

Farmers receive 478 farm machinery worth Rs. 250 Mn procured by the CSIAP

The President hands over a symbolic key  to a farmer and President inspects machinery   

President Hon. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa handed 478 farm machineries worth Rs. 250 Mn purchased by the Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project (CSIAP) over to farmers living in hots spot areas affected by climate change to carry out their agricultural activities. This ceremony took place at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.

Farmers will be able to obtain above farm machinery through 47 Agrarian Service Centers established in six provinces covering hot spot areas, which are highly vulnerable to climate variations in 11 districts such as  Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kilinochchi, Mutative, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Monaragala and Hambantota, to engage in their agricultural activities.

Marking the handing over the programme, President Rajapaksa made symbolic hand over of selected machinery to farmers. The machinery, totalling 478 individual items, include 189 Walk Behind Type Paddy Transplanters, 189 Lowland Power Weeders, 95 Drum Type Manual Paddy Seeders, 04 Paddy Combined Harvesters and 01 Four Wheel Tractor.

The objectives of providing machinery to farmers by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project is to enhance the living standards of the farmers affected by the Covid 19 epidemic and to boost the agricultural economy of the country which will bring social progress by increasing productivity, employment and income. 

Machinery delivered today

Minister of Agriculture Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage,  State Minister Hon. Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Mr. Gamini Senarath, Secretary of Agriculture Mr. D.M.L Bandaranayake,  CSIAP’s Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna,  Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathna were present in this event. 

Please see more Images of this programme.