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 Living Standards and the Environment

Strengthening the institutional framework within irrigation cascades has been identified as a key requirement for the effective management of cascade systems. Accordingly, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is establishing Cascade Management Committees (CMCs) comprising Farmer Organizations and local-level officials to manage water, land, and related natural resources at the cascade level. The overarching objective of the CMCs is to restore and improve watershed systems through integrated management, while promoting sustainable use of water and natural resources to enhance the living standards of rural communities. 

Establishment of CMCs in the Southern Province
Taking the initiative at the provincial level, the Deputy Project Director’s Office of CSIAP in the Southern Province organized an awareness programme on CMCs, which was held recently at the Divisional Secretariat Auditorium in Tissamaharama. Under the project, CSIAP plans to establish 60 CMCs across the project area, including 20 in the North Western Province, 10 in the North Central Province, 10 in the Northern Province, seven in the Eastern Province, seven in the Southern Province, and six in the Uva Province.

Importance of the Cascade System 
The meeting was presided over by Mr. P. H. Sumanasekara, District Secretary of Hambantota. A special lecture was delivered by Mr. Prabath Vithana, former Head of the Water Management Division of the Department of Agrarian Development and retired Chief Engineer, who emphasized the social, economic, and environmental importance of the cascade system and its role in sustainable rural development. 

Multi-Stakeholder Participation
The awareness programme saw the participation of approximately 120 participants, including heads of line agencies, field officers, and other relevant stakeholders. Their active engagement reflected a strong commitment to strengthening cascade management institutions and promoting sustainable water and land resource management to improve environmental conditions and rural livelihoods.

By R.P.M. Dissanayake, Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist, SP, CSIAP