The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture
Project (CSIAP) has installed 512 solar-powered animal fences across its
project areas, protecting 21,338.5 hectares of farmland and benefiting 41,418
farming families during the project period. The project allocated Rs. 1,137.77
million for the construction of these fences, enhancing farm protection and
contributing to improved agricultural productivity.
These fences are designed to protect
crops and reduce human–wildlife conflict, providing a community-friendly
solution that is easy to install and dismantle. This allows wildlife to move
freely during off-seasons while safeguarding farmland during cultivation
periods.
The implementation of animal fencing
has b
een carried out in two phases. Phase I involved the erection of 243 fences
covering 8,172.6 hectares, directly benefiting 24,714 farmer families. Phase II
added 269 fences across 13,165.9 hectares, supporting an additional 16,704
farmer families. The CSIAP has installed 512
solar-powered animal fences across its project areas, protecting 21,338.5
hectares of farmland and benefiting 41,418 farming families during the project
period. The project allocated Rs. 1,137.77 million for the construction of
these fences, enhancing farm protection and contributing to improved
agricultural productivity.
Provincial Distribution and Coverage
The distribution of fences under both
phases across provinces is as follows:The distribution of the 512 fences
across provinces highlights CSIAP’s wide-reaching impact: 17 fences in Northern
Central Province (NCP), 41 in Southern Province (SP), 96 in Eastern Province
(EP), 155 in North Western Province (NWP), 143 in Northern Province (NP), and
60 in Uva Province (UP), ensuring comprehensive coverage and support for
farmers across 11 districts in hotspot areas where the CSIAP is being
implemented.
Initiative to Reduce Human-Elephant
Conflict (HEC)
Human-elephant conflict (HEC) poses a
severe risk to farmers in the CSIAP project areas. Reports indicate that many
farmers enter their fields fearing for their lives, with some having been
attacked by elephants while guarding their paddy lands, and in tragic cases,
losing their lives. This situation has created a climate of fear, preventing
farmers from working safely and affecting agricultural productivity.
To
address HEC and protect farmers, the project introduced solar-powered electric
fences across the provinces. These fences offer multiple benefits:
- Enhanced Productivity: Farmers have observed significant increases in crop yields due to reduced intrusion by wildlife, protecting fields from damage.
- Financial Savings: The cost of maintaining solar-powered fences is lower than traditional methods of field protection, making it a cost-effective solution.
- Reduced Human-Wildlife Conflict: By protecting crops without harming elephants, the initiative promotes coexistence and environmentally sustainable conflict mitigation.
- Farmer Empowerment: The initiative encourages collective responsibility among farmers and strengthens farmer organizations, fostering community-based solutions
Electric fencing supports sustainable agriculture, strengthen food security, and improve livelihoods for farming communities in project areas. Farmers receive hands-on training on fence installation, maintenance, and safe operation, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the fences and promoting community ownership of the intervention.
By P.G. Aruni Premathilake , Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist, PMU, CSIAP
