The CSIAP Opens Value Addition Center in Uyilankulam to Empower Local Farmers

In a significant step toward strengthening rural entrepreneurship and enhancing agricultural livelihoods, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) inaugurated a Value Addition Center in Uyilankulam yesterday (31st), under the Thunukka Agrarian Service Center Division of the Mullaitivu District.

The opening ceremony took place during the 11th and final Implementation Support Mission of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and was graced by Dr. Sheu Salau, Senior Agriculture Economist and Task Team Leader (TTL) of the World Bank for CSIAP, who formally declared the centre open. This newly established facility will be operated by the Malarum Pookkal Producer Society, a dynamic farmer-based organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable income generation within the local community. The Value Addition Centre is expected to play a vital role in enabling farmers—especially women and youth—to diversify their agricultural products, reduce post-harvest losses, and earn higher profits through processing and packaging.

To support these efforts, the CSIAP has equipped the centre with a range of modern machinery and tools, including a groundnut decorticator, chilli grinder, rice flour grinder, coconut oil extractor, bag closer machine, and weighing balance. These facilities will allow producers to transform their raw harvests into market-ready goods such as groundnut oil, rice flour, and spice powders, adding substantial value to their produce.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Salau commended the dedication of local farmers and emphasised the importance of such community-driven initiatives in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. “Value addition is a crucial link in the agricultural value chain. It empowers farmers to move beyond primary production and capture greater economic returns from their hard work,” he noted.

Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director, and Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director (Northern Province), along with officials from the CSIAP and members of the farming community, participated in the ceremony. The event concluded with a tour of the facility and an interactive session where farmers shared their aspirations for expanding agro-based enterprises with CSIAP’s continued support. The establishment of the Uyilankulam Value Addition Center stands as another milestone in CSIAP’s mission to empower rural communities through climate-smart, market-oriented agriculture—paving the way for a more resilient and prosperous farming future in northern Sri Lanka.

Story by S. Kesiga, Environmental Safeguard Officer, CSIAP, Northern Province

The CSIAP Hands Over Tractors and Laser Land Levellers to Support Farmers

In a continued effort to strengthen climate-smart agriculture and improve land productivity, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) ceremonially handed over tractors and laser land levellers to key agricultural institutions for the benefit of farmers. Under this initiative, one set of tractors and a laser land leveller each was provided to the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Northern Province, and the Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI), Bathalagoda. These high-value assets, amounting to Rs. 24 million, will be made available for farmers to hire through the respective institutions, ensuring broader access to modern, precision land preparation technologies.

Marking the occasion, Dr. Sheu Salau, Senior Agriculture Economist and Task Team Leader (TTL) of the World Bank for CSIAP, handed over the symbolic key to Ms. Suganthiny Senthilkumaran, Director of Agriculture, Northern Province, at the Deputy Project Director’s Office of CSIAP (Northern Province) in Kilinochchi yesterday (31st). Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP (Northern Province), welcomed the gathering and highlighted the importance of mechanisation in achieving efficient water management and enhanced crop productivity in the dry zones.  The ceremony was graced by Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director, CSIAP, who witnessed the handover, and Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Senior Consultant for Agriculture and Rural Development of the World Bank, along with officials from government departments and staff of  the CSIAP.

 This initiative stands as a testament to CSIAP’s unwavering commitment to empowering farming communities through the adoption of modern agricultural technologies and sustainable land management practices. By introducing advanced equipment such as tractors and laser land levellers, the project not only enhances farm-level productivity and water-use efficiency but also contributes to building climate resilience among smallholder farmers across the areas where the CSIAP is being implemented. 

The event concluded on a positive note, as all participants—representing the World Bank, the CSIAP, and partner government institutions—joined together for a group photograph, symbolising their shared dedication to fostering a more sustainable and climate-smart agricultural future in Sri Lanka.

Story by S. Kesiga, Environmental Safeguard Officer, CSIAP, Northern Province