Mr. S.M. Saman Bandulasena, the Project Director and Specialists from the Project Management Unit of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) monitored the status of CSIAP’s ongoing activities during an observation tour of the Northern Province commenced today (19th). During this tour, project locations were visited to monitor and assess ongoing operations and gain important insights into the implementation, challenges and outcome of the project.
By doing such visits, the Project Director expects
- Real-Time Observations: Get a firsthand look into the CSIAP’s operations and conditions to gain a better understanding of challenges and achievements.
- Monitoring: Assess the progress, quality, and impact of the project and identify gaps/ areas that require improvement.
- Practical Understanding: Gain insights into the CSIAP’s objectives and real-world implementation and understand how theoretical plans translate into actionable results.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Interact with beneficiaries, stakeholders and team members to gather feedback and build relationships with the community involved.
- Improved Decision-Making: Apply knowledge gained from the visit to • Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate with team members, beneficiaries, and stakeholders to get their opinions and cultivate ties with the community.
- Better Decision-Making: Use insights from the visit to make informed decisions or adjustments.
- Community Insights: Understand how the CSIAP affects and meets the requirements of the community.
- Performance Assessment: Evaluate whether the CSIAP meets its goals within the expected timeframe and budget.
The rehabilitation process of the Puthukulam Tank in Oddusudan of Mullaitivu district was observed and the contractor was instructed to complete the task as immediately as possible by the Project Director Mr. Bandulasena. Eng. N.A.I.U.K. Nissanka, Water Management and Monitoring Specialist of the CSIAP who designed the first-ever Piano type spill in the project area, was commented by the Project Director. The cost of constructing Piano-type Spill, Bund Works, sluices, Field Channels, Access Roads and Causeways under the Puthukulam Tank is Rs 35Mn.
Instruction was given to the contractor to complete the rehabilitation process of the Embaikulam Tank in Oddusudan of Mullaitivu district immediately by the Project Director. Agri Roads, Bund Works, Field Channels and Access Roads are to be constructed at a cost of Rs 30Mn.
The Grain Store with a space of over 1100 sqm was built in Koolamurippu, Oddusudan of Mullaitivu district, at a cost of Rs 69Mn.
A discussion was held with the contractor to build Culverts and modify Access Roads in flood-prone areas in Keechukulam, Oddusudan of Mullaitivu district. Under this, 14 Culverts are to be built at a cost of Rs 5Mn to avoid damages to agri roads and crops during the rainy season.
The CSIAP team witnessed the success of Farmer Kumara Kulasingham (aged 55) in Keppapilav, Muliyawali of Mullaitivu district district after supporting him in rehabilitating an Agro-well and purchasing a Water Pump to cultivate his land.
Farmer U. Malani (aged 50) in Palampasi, Oddusudan of Mullaitivu district engaged in successful Maize Cultivation with inputs such as Seeds and Solar Powered Warter Pump provided by the CSIAP.
Instruction was given to the contractor by the Project Director to speed up the rehabilitation process of the Vannerikulam tank in Kilinochchi district immediately. Bund Works and 03 Spill Works are ongoing at Rs 114Mn.
The Project Director and his team witnessed the Laser Level Technology introduced Paddy Field in Vannerikulam of Kilinochchi district which belonging to Farmer M. Thawakumar (aged 40) who transplanted his paddy field with the Paddy Transplanter provided by the CSIAP.
The Project Director inspected operation of Groundnut Decorticator, Seed Paddy Cleaning Machine, Cassava Slicing Machine, Coconut Oil Expellers, Turmeric grinding machine and Weighing Scale given to Akkarayan Producer Association in Skanthapuram of Kilinochchi district.
A special meeting with contractors and the provincial staff of the CSIAP was held at the Deputy Project Director’s Office in the Northern Province of the CSIAP in Kilinochchi district to speed up the rehabilitation process of Tank-related activities.
A special discussion on the progress made so far through the activities carried out by the CSIAP in the Northern Province with the financial assistance of the World Bank and the plans to be implemented in the province until December 2025 was held with Mr. Nagalingam Vethanayaham, Governor of Northern Province, at the Governor’s Secretariat in Jaffna.
Project Director Mr. S. M. Saman Bandulasena pointed out to the Governor that the CSIAP has contributed to the advancement of agriculture in the country by improving the living standards of farmers so far and highlighted the new plan to implement the project activities extensively until December 2025. Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director of the CSIAP in Northern Province and Subject Specialist from the PMU also exchanged their views with Governor Mr. Vethanayaham.
The 08th Provincial Steering Committee meeting was held at the Chief Secretary's Secretariat in Jaffna with officers of the Provincial Department of Irrigation, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Development, other stakeholders and CSIAP under the patronage of Mr.L.Ilaangovan, Chief Secretary, to discuss the 2024 progress, issues and the 2025 plan.
The one kilometer-long Salt Water Excursion Bund constructed in Semankundru of Kilinochchi district at a cost of Rs. 90Mn was inspected.
Bund and Spill works constructed under the Theekiri Tank in Semankundru of Kilinochchi district. were observed.
Farmer V. Santhiya (Aged 30), who cultivated his field successfully in Jeyapuram village, Mulankavil of Kilinochchi district with Capsicum Seeds, Chilli Seeds, Solar Water Pumps, a Sprinkler Irrigation System, an Insect-Proof Net and an Inter Cultivator Highland Power Weeder given by the CSIAP, was observed.
Farmer S.Ketheshwaran (Aged 50), who cultivated her field successfully in Neradampan of Kilinochchi district with Capsicum Seeds, Chilli Seeds, an Insect-Proof Net, a Sprinkler Irrigation System and Solar water pumps given by the CSIAP, was observed.
Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director of the CSIAP in Northern Province organized and facilitated the observation tour with his provincial staff.
By Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist, PMU, CSIAP
