The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture
Project (CSIAP) is taking a systematic and scientific approach to enhance the
sustainability and productivity of Sri Lanka’s irrigated agricultural systems
through the development of 59 Cascade Management Plans (CMPs). These plans are
being formulated based on comprehensive assessments of hydrology, geology,
geography, livelihoods, and economic linkages within the project’s command
areas. By integrating multiple layers of information, CMPs aim to provide a
holistic understanding of each cascade’s potential and challenges.
Each CMP considers existing and proposed infrastructure, ecosystem health, cropping patterns in paddy fields and highlands, irrigation management constraints, and interconnections within command areas. This multi-dimensional approach ensures that both agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability are addressed in planning. A new series of maps, developed from this detailed analysis, forms a central part of each cascade profile, enabling evidence-based decision-making and enhancing the precision of interventions across the command areas.
To ensure the successful implementation of these plans, the CSIAP has established 59 Cascade Management Committees (CMCs) in districts including Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Monaragala, and Hambantota, covering six provinces where the project operates. Each CMC is composed of cascade beneficiaries alongside representatives from relevant government agencies, fostering a collaborative platform to manage the sustainable use of forests, soil, water, and land. These committees are envisioned as local governance structures that not only oversee resource management but also strengthen community participation and ownership in project interventions.
A
special meeting was convened yesterday (10th), chaired by Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe,
Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, to review the progress in
establishing CMCs and the development of CMPs. The meeting was attended by
senior officials and experts, including Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL)
of CSIAP (joining remotely), Mr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture
Specialist, Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Consultant, Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne,
Consultant (World Bank), Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary
(Development), Ms. Renuka Rathnayake, Director (Development), and Eng. R.M.B.
Rajakaruna, Project Director, along with subject specialists and officers of the
CSIAP.
During the meeting, the first CMP developed for the Babawa Cascade in Hambantota was formally handed over to the Secretary of Agriculture. This milestone highlights the project’s commitment to scientific, data-driven, and participatory planning, establishing a replicable model for cascade-based management across Sri Lanka. By integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions in each CMP, CSIAP aims to enhance resilience to climate change, improve agricultural productivity, and support sustainable livelihoods for rural communities dependent on irrigated agriculture. Please click Images to see more photos of the event.
Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP
