A First-Ever Vegetable Shop in NWP to Sell Surplus Organic Home Garden Harvest

The Deputy Project Director’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in the North Western Province (NWP) is encouraging farmers to operate Vegetable Shops to sell surplus organic produce from their home gardens. This initiative aims to provide farmers with an additional source of income while promoting sustainable, chemical-free farming practices. Organic home gardening, promoted by the CSIAP, emphasizes growing plants without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, using only natural inputs. This method replenishes natural resources and supports environmental sustainability. To date, approximately 16,762 Climate Smart Home Gardens have been established across NWP.

Investment in Vegetable Shops
The provincial office has planned an investment of Rs. 1.6 million to inaugurate 36 vegetable shops across the province. These shops will sell not only fresh vegetables but also eggs from backyard poultry and value-added products such as turmeric and chili powder. By creating a direct link between farmers and consumers, these shops offer fresh, locally produced food while helping farmers build personal relationships with their customers.

Inauguration of the First Shop
The first vegetable shop, owned by Mrs. K.M. Indrani Kusumalatha, was inaugurated in Vadurassa village under the Ambanpola Agrarian Service Center in Kurunegala district. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Mr. D.M.K. Chandana Dissanayake, Provincial Secretary of Agriculture, and Mrs. H.M.C.J. Herath, Divisional Secretary of Ambanpola.

Dignitaries and Participants
The event was attended by Mr. P. Sisira Kumara, Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Mr. W. Kamalsiri, Director of Provincial Irrigation, around forty government officers representing various provincial departments, over 120 farmers, and Mr. W.M.S. Wijesinghe, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP in NWP, along with his staff.

Impact on Rural Communities
Vegetable Shops are a vital part of the rural economy, offering consumers easy access to fresh, home-grown produce while enabling farmers to earn additional income and strengthen community ties. The initiative reflects CSIAP’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and rural development in the North Western Province.

Story and Photographs by Chamara Basnayake (Agriculture Facilitator), Rajanganaya ASC, NWP 

The CSIAP establishes CMCs to enhance the living standards and the environment

Strengthening the institutional framework in the cascade is identified as one of the key requirements for managing the cascade system. Therefore, Cascade Management Committees (CMCs) are to be formed, consisting of the farmer Organizations and local level officials for resources (water and land) management at the cascade level. The overall objective of the CMC is to restore and improve the watershed system through integrated management and manage water and associated natural resources in a sustainable manner to enhance the living standards of rural communities.

The Deputy Project Director’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in Southern took initiative to establish CMCs in the province and awareness of CMCs was held at the Divisional Secretariat’s Auditorium in Tissamaharama recently.  The CSIAP will establish 30 CMCs in North Western, 12 CMCs in North Central, 10 CMCs in Northern, 12 CMCs in Eastern, 07 in Southern and 09 CMS in Uva provinces respectively.

At this meeting presided over by the District Secretary in Hambantota Mr P.H Sumanasekara, former Head of the Water Management Division at the Department of Agrarian Development and retired Chief Engineer Prabath Vithana delivered a special lecture on the importance of the cascade system, social, and economic and environmental aspects of the cascade. Institutional Development and Capacity Building Specialist and acting Deputy Project Director of the Project Management Unit (PMU), CSIAP, Mr. D.V. Bandulasena explained the formation process of CMCs, its duties and responsibilities of it. Heads of Line Agencies agreed to nominate their representatives for each CMC too. and heads of line agencies and field officers including 120 participants attended this event.

Story by R.P.M. Dissanayake (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), SP, CSIAP