Residential Training on Manioc-Based Value Addition Held in Northern Province

A three-day residential training programme on manioc-based value addition was recently organized for officers and farmers of the Northern Province at the Cathy Rich Food Processing Center in Embilipitiya. The event was conducted by the Deputy Project Director’s Office (NP) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The programme aimed to enhance food security, nutrition, and income generation by promoting value-added foods—crops or products improved through processing, fortification, better packaging, and extended storage.

Benefits of Value-Added Foods
Value-added foods provide multiple benefits, including improved nutrition, greater income for producers, access to new markets, reduced waste, and enhanced food safety. By introducing manioc-based products, the training emphasized cost-effective alternatives to wheat-based foods, offering higher nutritive value and greater versatility in preparation.

Participants and Focus Areas
Representing the Northern Province, 4 Agriculture Instructors, 3 Agriculture Facilitators, and 16 small entrepreneurs—including 10 female participants—attended the programme. Most entrepreneurs specialized in cassava chip production and bakery manufacturing. The training focused on diversifying manioc-based products such as sago, biscuits, and cakes, rather than replacing wheat flour, which has become scarce due to recent economic challenges in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

Hands-On Training and Practical Skills
Participants received hands-on training in the preparation of manioc flour, manioc starch, manioc cake, manioc sago, and manioc biscuits. Group activities included designing labels, selecting suitable packaging materials, and troubleshooting technical challenges in packaging and processing. The programme also covered identification of raw materials and processing equipment, as well as guidance on sourcing packaging materials and operating equipment effectively.

Impact and Future Prospects
By equipping farmers and small entrepreneurs with practical skills and knowledge on manioc-based value addition, CSIAP aims to strengthen local food production, improve nutrition, and enhance income opportunities. The training reflects the project’s commitment to promoting sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices and supporting rural livelihoods in the Northern Province.

Story by R. Sanjeepan (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), NP, CSIAP 

The CSIAP launches the first-ever drone spraying service in the project area

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) launches its first-ever Drone spraying services for farmers and officers in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts recently. This Drone services will help farmers gain better and uniform spraying across their crops and address the farm labour shortage. The advanced technology of drone spraying will save farmers' time and ensure their safety from higher exposure to liquid pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides.

This unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could help agriculture operations by monitoring crop growth and increasing crop output too. This UAV is capable of spraying crops with fertilizers or pesticides. Unlike a traditional Knapsack sprayer, drones can spray crops more precisely. It can be used to spray an even amount of liquid in all necessary sections, so there’s no risk of overdosing crops. Drone spraying service will be introduced to the other areas where the CSIAP is being implemented.

 The demonstration of the drone spray service was conducted in the presence of farmers and officers by Eng. K. Arulvaratharjaah, Nilaveli Lagoon (Pvt) Ltd at Government Seed Production Farm, Paranthan, Kilinochchi recently. This high-efficiency drone is capable of operating twenty-five times faster than a traditional knapsack sprayer. Agrochemical was sprayed in 2 hectares of paddy field within 30 minutes efficiently in front of the participants by this drone. Before the demonstration, a group discussion was conducted regarding the drone technology, use of organic pesticides and fertilizers in drone sprayer, advantages, disadvantages and limitations, of drone sprayer delays in getting security approvals and economic analysis of drone application.  Around 122 personnel including 31 females participated in this event.

Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director (NP), Subject Specialists and officers of the CSIAP organized and coordinated the demonstration. Officials of Field Crops Research Development Centre (Kilinochchi), Animal Production & Health (Kilinochchi), Seed & Planting Material Development Centre (Kilinochchi), Provincial Department of Agriculture (Kilinochchi), Provincial Department of Agriculture (Mullaitivu),  Government Departments, NGOs, private sector, Representatives of private companies, Seed producers, leaders of Farmer Organizations, members of Producer Societies and farmers were present in this demonstration programme.

Story by R. Sanjeepan (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), NP, CSIAP