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| Chaminda, a proud and happy farmer today |
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| Gunapala is climbing the coconut tree for treacle |
At
the ground level, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) works
tirelessly to uplift farmers’ living standards while strengthening their
contribution to the national agricultural economy. An
inspiring example of this commitment can be found in Gonapattiya village under
the Yodhakandiya Agrarian Service Centre Division in Hambantota, where a
determined father–son duo has rewritten their farming story with timely support
from the project.
Mr. W. G. Gunapala (age 72) and his son, Mr. W. G. Chaminda
Pushpakumara (age 53), have spent decades connected to agriculture. Cultivating
2.5 acres of paddy land and 7 acres of highland, they possessed the land and
the will to succeed—but not the means. Persistent challenges such as water
scarcity, lack of modern equipment, limited inputs, and inadequate technical
guidance kept their efforts from bearing fruit. Despite their commitment,
success remained elusive.
The turning point came when Ms. Pathumi Dissanayake,
Agriculture Facilitator for the Southern Province under the CSIAP, identified their
situation. Understanding both their constraints and potential, she took prompt
initiative to address the key barriers holding them back. Through field visits
and close discussions with the farmers, she assessed their needs and explored
ways CSIAP could provide meaningful support. She then formally forwarded these
requirements to the Deputy Project Director’s Office of the CSIAP for the Southern
and Uva Provinces.  |
| Bottles of treacle produced for the market |
Under
the direct supervision of Mr. D. M. L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director
of the CSIAP in the Southern and Uva Provinces, Pathumi Dissanayake carried out
her work diligently at the field level, ensuring that farmers' needs were
accurately identified and effectively addressed through timely coordination,
guidance, and continuous follow-up.
As a result of these coordinated efforts, the farmers received
a solar-powered water pump—an intervention that directly addressed their most
critical challenge: water scarcity. Along with the pump, they were provided
with quality groundnut and green gram seeds to diversify and strengthen their
cultivation. To ensure sustainability, Pathumi further coordinated with
Mr. Indika Srilal, Agriculture Instructor at Yodhakandiya, who delivered
continuous technical guidance, on-site advice and Climate Smart Agriculture
Training. Together, their dedicated support created a strong foundation for the
farmers to move forward with confidence.
Fully equipped and empowered, Gunapala and Chaminda
resumed cultivation with renewed determination. Paddy cultivation flourished
with the reliable water supply, while the highland fields soon came alive with
tomatoes, long beans, chillies, green gram, and groundnuts. With water scarcity
no longer a constraint, productivity increased steadily, and diversification
became possible.
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| Pathumi with Chaminda at his husbandry unit |
Encouraged by their success, both father and son expanded into
new ventures, including animal husbandry as a business initiative and the
production of coconut treacle, further strengthening their household income.
These multiple income streams have gradually elevated their quality of life.
Today, the impact of the CSIAP support is visible not only in
their fields but also in their home. With earnings from agriculture, Mr.
Chaminda has begun constructing his own house and has been able to financially
support his child’s university education—an achievement that reflects both
economic stability and social progress.
Gunapala and Chaminda now enjoy a dignified and
improved lifestyle, built on resilience, hard work, and well-targeted
assistance. Their journey stands as a powerful testament to how climate-smart
interventions, dedicated field-level guidance, and farmer-focused support under the CSIAP can open a new era of opportunity for rural farming families—turning
long-held aspirations into lasting achievements.
