The forthcoming visit of the Managing Director of the World Bank being discussed

 A high-level delegation of the World Bank led by Mr. Faris. H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director, and including Ms. Chiyo Kanda, Country Manager, Sara Gustafson, Senior Country Officer,  Mr. Asela Dissanayake, Senior Operations Officer and  Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist, visited the Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane last Friday (22nd) to discuss the forthcoming official visit of Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations of the World Bank to the FTS. On behalf of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Deputy Project Director (PMU and NCP) Mr. H.M.P. Bandara and other senior officials of the CSIAP attended this discussion.

The World Bank Country Director inspects agricultural machinery at the FTS

Mr. Faris. H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director of the World Bank inspected the agricultural machinery used for training purposes of farmers who are on three-day residential programmes at the Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane last Friday (22nd). Mr. Hadad-Zervos laid the foundation stone for the FTS on 22^nd December 2021.

Launching the 'AgroBizz App' to sell farmers's products without middlemen

The Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project (CSIAP) introduces a software application called 'Agro Bizz' to around 70,000 farming families belonging to 47 agricultural service division areas affected by climate change in 11 districts located in 06 provinces, where the CSIAP is being implemented, to sell their agricultural products at a fair price by avoiding middlemen.

The absence of a market to sell agricultural products at a fair price by avoiding middlemen is a major problem faced by the farmers in the CSIAP area, and as a solution to this, the project expects to sell agricultural products through an online application called 'Agro Bizz'. When selling farm produce online, payments will also be credited to farmers' accounts via 'Agro Bizz'. A leading software company  'Celata Tech' has invented this 'Agro Bizz' application which can be downloaded onto Android smartphones.

In a discussion held between World Bank officials, CSIAP officials and 'Celata Tech' company officials, it has been agreed to provide this application for free to about 70,000 project beneficiary farmers. Accordingly, a series of training programmes for selected representatives from the 11 districts under the project area as trainers have been started. The CSIAP aims to popularize this application among the farmers by training and appointing the Agricultural Business and Marketing Relations Officers and agricultural Facilitators working in the Provincial Deputy Project Director Offices of the CSAIP and office bearers of  Producer Associations and Producer Societies as representatives.

Selected representatives from Hambantota, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee Batticaloa and Ampara have been trained and the 'Agro Bizz' application will be introduced to the farmers by those representatives. Farmers are able to enter the image of their products on this application and information such as the quantity of the products, the time when they can be offered for sale, and the prices expected by the farmers can also be mentioned on this application. Farmers' information, farm information, cultivation information and product information are entered into the 'Agro Bizz' application. The 'Celata Tech' company has already registered product buyers, processing agencies, freight forwarders, consultants, Banks and service providers on 'Agro Bizz' to support CSIAP farmers.

Introducing AgroBizz to sell agro-products online at a fair price by the CSIAP

 

A Climate Smart Agriculture Field Day in Kilinochchi & Mullaitivu by the CSIAP

 The Agricultural Field Day organized by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is more than a one-day event; it's a testament to the resilience and dedication of the agricultural community of the area where the CSIAP is being implemented. It is a highly useful event that serves as a nexus for education, innovation, community building, and economic development within the agricultural field of CSIAP farmers who play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture. It connects farmers with their cultivation skills and fosters a profound appreciation for the agricultural sector. Organizing such an event will be an excellent way to bring together farmers, agricultural professionals, and the broader community to share knowledge, showcase innovations, and promote sustainable farming practices.  

Mr. S.M. Saman Bandulasena, Chief Secretary, Northern Province along with Ms. S.Suganthini, Provincial Director (Agricultura), Agriculture Instructors of the respective areas,  Mr. Geroge Babu, Deputy Project Director (Northern Province) , Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this Agricultural Field Day, which is a journey of enlightenment and enrichment in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. All officials visited.     

• Thelikarai Village of Poonakary ASC division for Watermelon Field, Thelikarai Tank Rehabilitation, Groundnut Seed Poduction and Harvesting
• Udaiyarkattu village division for MICHY 1 Chilie Cultivation
• Jeyapuram of Mulankavil ASC for Groundnut Cultivation with Sprinkler Irrigation   
• Iyankan Kulam of Thunukai ASC division  for Crop Diversification in Paddy field
• Karuvelankandal of Oddusuddan ASC division for Parachute and mechanical transplanted paddy field 

This Field Day not only educates and inspires but also underscores the pivotal role that agriculture plays in sustaining our CSIAP farming community and preserving the cultivated land for generations to come.