Two-Day Workshop on Developing CMC Handbook Commences at Hanthana

Mr. Wickramarathna conducting the workshop

A two-day residential workshop aimed at developing the Handbook on Cascade Management Committee (CMC), organized by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), commenced today (01st) at the Rathnasiri Wickramanayake National Training Centre (RWNTC), Hanthana. The event was held under the patronage of Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director, CSIAP. The workshop brings together Provincial Deputy Project Directors, Institutional Development and Capacity Building (IDCB) Specialists, and selected specialists from the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the CSIAP, to collaboratively design a comprehensive reference guide for strengthening CMCs across project areas. 

Purpose and Scope of the Proposed CMC Handbook
The proposed CMC Handbook serves as a practical guide to strengthen the planning, coordination, and management of cascade systems. It provides a common framework and reference point for all stakeholders engaged in cascade conservation and development. Drawing on field experience and expert knowledge, the handbook promotes an integrated, landscape-based approach that balances environmental sustainability with community and institutional needs. 

Key Objectives of the CMC Handbook
Specifically, the handbook aims to:

• Provide clear guidance to CMC members, government officials, partner agencies, Farmer Organisations (FOs), and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) on their roles, responsibilities, and operational procedures in managing cascade landscape systems.

  

  Mr. Bandulasena addressing the audience

• Strengthen collaboration and coordination among government agencies, farmer organisations, local communities, and development partners to achieve shared objectives in cascade and landscape management.
• Promote coordinated action among relevant government agencies, local authorities, and communities to ensure efficient use of resources and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Enhance institutional capacity of CMCs and partner organisations to effectively plan, monitor, and evaluate cascade-related interventions.

Technical Facilitation and Expert Guidance 
Serving as the workshop facilitator, Mr Sarath Wickramaratne, Senior IDCB Consultant at the World Bank, guides participants through interactive sessions, discussions, and technical inputs. His expertise is expected to enrich the process of developing a practical and implementable handbook that will empower CMCs to effectively manage cascades, promote participatory decision-making, and ensure the sustainability of irrigated agriculture systems. 

Emphasis on Institutional Strengthening and Community Participation

Speaking at the opening session, Project Director Mr. Bandulasena highlighted the importance of institutional strengthening and community participation in cascade management, emphasising that the forthcoming handbook will serve as a key tool in building resilient and inclusive agricultural communities.  The two-day programme will comprehensively cover key aspects of Cascade Management Committees (CMCs), including their organisational structures, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, decision-making frameworks, accountability and governance mechanisms, as well as their integration with relevant provincial- and national-level institutions. The outcomes of this workshop are expected to lay a strong foundation for the development of standardised practices and operational guidelines, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of CMCs in supporting CSIAP’s overarching objective of promoting climate-smart and sustainable agricultural development.

 

World Bank Review Mission Emphasizes the Importance of CMCs and Guideline Development 

Dr. Salu addressing participants during the mission

Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), highlighted the role of the Cascade Management Committees (CMCs), their functions, and the need to develop comprehensive guidelines, as well as the associated requirements, during the World Bank Review Mission held at the Project Management Unit (PMU) earlier this year. The discussion took place in the presence of CSIAP’s Deputy Project Directors, Specialists and Officers, led by Project Director Mr. Saman Bandulasena, along with members of the World Bank team, including Ms. Anula Harasgama, Senior Financial Management Specialist, Ms. Thiruni Liyanage, Co-TTL and Water Resources Management Specialist; Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist; Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Senior Consultant for Agriculture and Rural Development; Ms. Saumya Srivastava , Agriculture Specialist and CSIAP ICR Author.

The CSIAP Highlights Farmers’ Innovations at Regional Trade Fairs and Exhibitions

Promoting Farmer Innovation Alongside World Tourism Day
The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) recently participated in a series of Trade Fairs and Exhibitions held in Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala. These events were organised in parallel with World Tourism Day celebrations, providing a strategic platform to introduce CSIAP and its farmers’ innovations while engaging both local and international audiences. The exhibitions were conducted in districts where the CSIAP is currently being implemented, enabling the project to highlight its on-ground achievements and farmer innovations.

Objectives of the CSIAP Participation
The primary objective of the CSIAP’s participation was to provide farmers with a valuable opportunity to demonstrate their agricultural capabilities, showcase climate-smart products, and directly sell their produce. The exhibitions also aimed to facilitate linkages between the CSIAP farmers and potential buyers. Hotels, resorts, villas, and other tourist accommodation providers were specifically invited to visit the exhibitions to explore sourcing opportunities and to strengthen market connections between the agriculture and tourism sectors.

Provincial Collaboration and Exhibition Venues
The Trade Fairs and Exhibitions were organized by the Eastern, North Central, and North Western Provincial Councils in their respective districts. The events were held at key locations to ensure high public visibility and participation:

• Eastern Trade Fair and Exhibition at the McHeyzer Playground, Trincomalee

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• North Central Trade Fair and Exhibition at Kubichchankulama, Anuradhapura

• North Western Trade Fair and Exhibition at the premises of the North Western Provincial Council, Kurunegala 

These venues attracted large crowds, including local residents, tourists, students, and representatives from the private sector.

Engaging Displays and Knowledge Sharing
The CSIAP booths featured an engaging range of displays that attracted significant attention from both local and foreign visitors. A model cascade system designed by the project became a key highlight, particularly appealing to schoolchildren and international visitors. Informative posters and visual materials showcased the project’s diverse interventions, including Climate Smart Agriculture practices, tank rehabilitation, agro-ecological landscape resilience planning, water management strategies, and the Climate Smart Farmer Training School.

Additional displays highlighted marketing linkages introduced under the project, environmental and social safeguards, women’s contribution to the agriculture sector, and efforts to improve household nutrition. Together, these exhibits effectively communicated CSIAP’s holistic approach to sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.

Strong Leadership and Institutional Support
Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director of the CSIAP, visited all three Trade Fairs and Exhibitions along with specialists and officers from the Project Management Unit. His presence underscored the project’s commitment to supporting farmer-led market engagement initiatives.

The success of the exhibitions was further strengthened by the dedicated contributions of Mr. S. Naveendradas, Deputy Project Director for the Eastern Province; Mr. R. P. M. Dissanayake, Deputy Project Director for the North Central Province; and Mr. H. M. P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director for the North Western Province. Their leadership, together with the efforts of provincial and field staff, ensured effective coordination and impactful participation across all three events.

Strengthening Market-Oriented Climate-Smart Agriculture 
Overall, the CSIAP’s participation in these regional Trade Fairs and Exhibitions successfully enhanced the visibility of climate-smart agriculture, strengthened farmer-buyer linkages, and reinforced the project’s contribution to sustainable rural livelihoods and tourism-linked market development.