Strengthening Livelihoods, Driving Technology Adoption, Promoting Sustainability, and Empowering Women: Insights from the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in Sri Lanka
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The CSIAP Integration Framework establishes a strategic alignment between project components and government policy objectives through interconnected pillars. At its core, the framework emphasizes People- and Environment-Centric Economic Development with the village tank cascade–based approach, focusing on improving livelihoods, reducing rural poverty, enhancing income opportunities, promoting gender equality, and fostering socio-economic empowerment within communities. This includes actively promoting gender-responsive development approaches by ensuring equitable access to resources, skills, and opportunities for women farmers and vulnerable groups, thereby strengthening women’s economic participation in rural economies. The approach also contributes to national poverty reduction goals by improving access to livelihoods, markets, and social services.
This pillar is complemented by the Technology-Based Society, which leverages innovation, digitalization, and technological advancements to drive modernization and enhance efficiency across all sectors—including improving women’s access to digital advisory services, climate-smart technologies, online agriculture platforms, and market information systems. CSIAP’s role in promoting digitalization aligns with national efforts to create a more connected, technology-enabled rural economy.
Underpinning
these development initiatives is the critical pillar of Sustainable
Environmental Management, which ensures environmental sustainability and
climate resilience are integrated into every aspect of project implementation.
CSIAP’s environmental focus incorporates gender-sensitive considerations,
recognizing that women often face disproportionate burdens from climate shocks
and therefore benefit significantly from climate-smart agriculture,
water-saving technologies, and sustainable natural resource management through
the village tank cascade–based approach. This approach also aligns with
national objectives under the “Clean Sri Lanka” vision by promoting
environmentally responsible land, water, and ecosystem management.
Together, these three pillars create a comprehensive and balanced framework addressing economic growth, technological advancement, environmental stewardship, poverty reduction, and gender equality simultaneously—ensuring that CSIAP initiatives contribute meaningfully to both immediate community needs and long-term sustainable development goals in alignment with broader government policy priorities.
Component-wise
Policy Integration for Agriculture Production and Marketing
The
Component-wise Policy Integration for Agriculture Production and Marketing
demonstrate a comprehensive alignment across the strategic pillars and the
development of physical resources. Under
People- and Environment-Centric Economic Development with the village tank
cascade–based approach, the component aims to increase farmer incomes through
improved productivity and market access, create employment opportunities along
the agricultural value chain, enhance food security and nutrition, empower
smallholder farmers with skills and resources, and develop
agri-entrepreneurship and rural enterprises. These interventions contribute
directly to rural poverty reduction, while placing special emphasis on women’s
economic empowerment by supporting women-led enterprises, increasing women’s
participation in value chain development, and strengthening women’s leadership
roles in various community and governance structures.
The Technology-Based Society pillar introduces precision agriculture and smart farming techniques, implements digital market platforms for better price discovery, expands mobile-based extension services, adopts modern post-harvest technologies, and integrates weather forecasting and crop monitoring systems. By empowering rural communities with digital solutions, the component supports national digitalization efforts and ensures women also gain equitable access to digital tools, online learning, and market opportunities.
The Sustainable Environmental Management dimension promotes climate-smart agriculture, encourages organic and sustainable farming methods, strengthens soil fertility and conservation measures, reduces chemical dependency through integrated pest management, and supports resilient crop varieties. These strategies support the Clean Sri Lanka national vision by reducing environmental pollution, safeguarding ecosystems, and encouraging sustainable production systems. Gender equality is integrated throughout by reducing women’s workload and supporting safer, more sustainable farming practices.
Additionally, the Development of Physical Resources component strengthens agricultural infrastructure, including storage and processing facilities, rural market facilities, cold chain systems, and improved rural road networks. These developments reduce market barriers, expand income opportunities, and support rural poverty reduction. They also facilitate women’s participation by improving mobility, expanding market access, and strengthening women-led cooperatives and enterprises—creating a gender-inclusive, digitally connected, and environmentally sustainable agricultural ecosystem.
Water
for Agriculture
The
Water for Agriculture component showcases a multifaceted approach that
addresses critical water resource challenges across all strategic dimensions.
Under
People- and Environment-Centric Economic Development with the village tank
cascade–based approach, the component ensures reliable water access for
enhanced crop yields and income, reduces vulnerability to drought and climate
variability, creates employment opportunities in irrigation maintenance, and
supports year-round cultivation and livelihood diversification. Incorporating
gender-responsive water governance mechanisms ensure women’s participation in
Farmer Organizations and Cascade Management Committees, reduces time burdens
related to water collection, and expands opportunities for women in irrigated
agriculture—all contributing to poverty reduction through improved economic
resilience
The
Technology-Based Society pillar introduces efficient irrigation technologies
such as drip and sprinkler systems, solar-powered irrigation solutions, and
digital tools for water resource planning using GIS and remote sensing. The
integration of user-friendly monitoring technologies supports national
digitalization goals and particularly benefits women by simplifying daily
tasks, improving productivity, and increasing engagement in decision-making
processes.
The
Sustainable Environmental Management dimension promotes water conservation,
watershed protection, soil salinity prevention, integrated water resources
management, and rainwater harvesting—strengthening climate resilience and
environmental health. These measures actively support the Clean Sri Lanka
initiative by promoting eco-friendly practices that preserve water quality,
reduce pollution, and enhance landscape sustainability.
The Development of Physical Resources component rehabilitates irrigation systems, constructs water harvesting structures, develops canal and distribution networks, and expands groundwater recharge systems and micro-irrigation facilities. These improvements support vulnerable communities, enhance agricultural productivity, reduce women's physical burdens related to water management, and contribute to broader national goals related to poverty reduction, digitalization of resource management systems, and transitioning towards a Cleaner, Greener Sri Lanka with equal opportunity for all—leveraging the village tank cascade–based approach to maximize community benefits.
By Sharmila Shanmuganthan, Social Safeguard and Gender Development Officer, PMU, CSIAP
