CSIAP Provides 234 Farmers with 2,200 kg of Maize Seeds Valued at Rs. 2.17 M

Happy farmers proudly standing in their maize field

Amid the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the farming community in Mahadiulwewa Agriculture Instructor Range (Segment D) of the Pannakulam Agrarian Service Centre Division, Trincomalee, has shown resilience by ensuring the production of maize in the Maha season 2021/22. The Deputy Project Director’s Office of the CSIAP in the Eastern Province provided 234 farmers, including 99 women farmers, with 2,200 kg of maize seeds worth Rs. 2,178,000 on a 75% concessionary basis. These seeds were cultivated on 440 acres across the region. The distribution was carried out through four Other Field Crops Produce Societies in Mahadiulwewa: Savipala, Ekamuthu, Miriswewa, and Rotawewa. 

This initiative demonstrates that high yields and efficiency in maize cultivation are achievable when technical guidance is properly applied, and inputs are managed accurately in time and space. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of Sri Lanka’s most important annual cereal crops, serving as both a staple food and a source of income for farmers in CSIAP areas. The processing and consumption of maize vary across Sri Lanka, with maize flour and meal being the most popular products. Supporting maize cultivation not only strengthens food security but also enhances livelihood opportunities for rural farmers in the Eastern Province.

The CSIAP provides Rs: 45.6m for renovating 152 Argo wells in Eastern Province

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) commences renovating 152 Agro wells in Eastern Province at the cost of Rs. 45.6m.  Under this, 78 Agro wells in Trincomalee, 29 Agro wells in Batticaloa  and 45 Agro wells in Ampara will be renovated. The event of making payments for farmers to renovate their    Agro wells  was held at the Divisional Secretariate, Morawewa recently under the patronage of Hon. Kapila Nuwan Athukorala, Parlimentarian, and Chairman of District Coordinating Committee, Trincomalee District. 

The scarcity of water for the cultivation in the Yala season is a major issue of farmers in the hotspot areas of Eastern Province. Agro wells are one of the major solutions to overcome water shortage in the dry season and this was identified by CSIAP during the Participatory Rural Appraisal at the field level. Agro wells are provided with supplementary irrigation for Other Field Crops (OFC) cultivation in the Yala season. On the other hand, farmers of some area of the Eastern Province used to cultivate OFC by means of Agro well as a major water source throughout the year and they could go for high-value crops, especially to cultivate in the off-season which will lead to high income. This can also affect the price fluctuation of certain crops affecting positively to consumers.

 Mr. Saman Dharshana Pandikorala,Goventment Agent, Trincomalee, Mr. W.M.Bhathiya Vijayantha, Divisional Secretary, Morawewa, Mr. S.M.G.Samarakoon, Divisional Secretary, Gomarankadawala,  Mr. W.R.Jagath Kumara, Pradesa Saba Chairman, Morawewa, Mr. L.B Chandana Vijitha Kumara Pradesa Saba Chairman, Gomarankadawela, CSIAP officers and members of Farmer Organizations and beneficiaries of Agro wells  attended on this occasion.       

 Dr. R. M. Ariyadasa, the Deputy Project Director, Eastern Province of the CSIAP organized the above programme  with the support of Divisional Secretaries of Morewewa and Gomarankadawala. 

Constructions of the Farm Field School at a cost of Rs: 117m at Thirappane in NCP

Dr. Milinda Pathiraja expalins his design

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) under the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the preliminary work of constructing a Farm Field School (FFS) at Mannakkulama village of Thirappane in Anuradhapura District in this month. The proposed school will train farmers in 11 districts of the six provinces (North Western, North Central, Northern, Eastern, Uva and Southern Provinces) where the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project being implemented and provide them with experience in climate change farming practices and technology. The FFS will cost Rs. 117 million which is funded by the World Bank.

The 2700 selected male and female farmers, 150 Extension Staff of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Development will be direct beneficiaries of the FFS, which is designed to be environmentally friendly and adapt to the farming environment, said Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, the CSIAP Project Director. The FFS will be also used to provide training for marketing and value addition, subjects coming under the Agrarian Business School to prepare farmers as entrepreneurs and Farm planning, he further added.

The design of the Farm Field School

The FFS will provide short-term courses such as the Training of Trainers programme for the officials and a general training programme for the farmers. Those courses will cover Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices that can be applied in both Maha and Yala seasons in hot-spot areas, wetland paddy cultivation, upland cultivation, homestead cultivation and for the other field crops (OFCs). Dr. Milinda Pathiraja, who took over the architectural design of the Farm Field School, provides his services free of charge with his team.

The 5th NPSC Meeting of the CSIAP commences at the MoA

The 05th National Project Steering Committee Meeting (NPSC) in 2021 of the CSIAP is being held today (28th) at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), under the patronage of Senior Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe, Secretary, to the Ministry of Agriculture.

 The overall project oversight is the responsibility of the NPSC established in the Ministry of Agriculture and chaired by its secretary. The NPSC consists of Heads of Departments, Senior Officials/representatives of the government and the World Bank.

 Chief Secretaries of six provinces where the CSIAP is being implemented, Heads of Departments of Implementing Agencies working with the CSIAP, other senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Project Director and  Deputy Project Directors of the CSIAP, physically participated in the meeting,  and the World Bank Task Team and other government officials joined this meeting virtually.

The CSIAP Provides the DAD with Rs: 3.5 Million of 95 Direct Paddy Seeders

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) funded by the World Bank provided the Department of Agrarian Development (DAD) with 95 Direct Paddy Seeders valued at Rs: 3.5 million at the Ministry of Agriculture today (27th). On behalf of the CSIAP, Minister of Agriculture Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage handed Direct Paddy Seeders over to Mr. Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathne, Commissioner General, DAD to deliver among farmers in areas where the CSIAP is being implemented.

The Direct Paddy Seeder given today is one of the revolutionary equipment that changed the face of sowing paddy seeds in wetland fields. It helps farmers to seed more efficiently and has plastic wheels that allow the seeder to float on the water Direct paddy drum seeder has eliminated the need of transplantation and hours of manual work which will literally break the back of the farmers involved in sowing the paddy seeds to the field. At one stretch with single operator effort, it covers 8 rows of 20 cm row to row spacing at a time. Made up of plastic material, which makes it easy to carry.

Additional Secretaries to the Ministry of Agriculture Mrs. Lathisha Liyanage and Mr. Pasan Rathnayake, the CSIAP Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, senior officials at the ministry, DAD and CSIAP participated in this event.

The WFM of the CSIAP between the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture

 The Way Forward Meeting (WFM) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project was held between the World Bank Officials and the Ministry of Agriculture today (25^th)  at the Ministry via WebEx video conferencing. This was a part of the Virtual Technical Mission of the CSIAP  held from 20^th to 25the October 2021. On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, the WFM was chaired by Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development) to the Ministry. The World Bank Officials from the US, India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka and the CSIAP officials led by Project Director Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna attended this event.

The CSIAP launches a tree-planting campaign in Mullaitivu to save ecosystems

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) recently launched a tree-planting campaign in the Northern Province to promote eco-friendly practices and ensure a secure ecosystem for the future of Sri Lanka, in line with the government’s Sustainable Environmental Policy. Under this initiative, Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP in the Northern Province and his staff, planted 350 trees—including Mahogany, Mee, and Java Plum—alongside government officials and farmers on the side of Mullaitivu Main Road (A34), in front of the District Agriculture Training Center in Oddusuddan, Mullaitivu. 

The campaign aims to contribute to global reforestation efforts, restore lost forests, repair damaged ecosystems, and mitigate climate change. Repeated tree planting helps combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, storing carbon, and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. During the event, participants were also briefed on ongoing and upcoming activities under the CSIAP. The CSIAP plans to replicate this tree-planting programm in other areas where the project is being implemented, continuing its efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship across Sri Lanka. 

By S. Kesiga, Environmental Safeguard Officer, CSIAP, Northern Province