CSIAP Hands Over Farm Machinery Worth Rs. 65.81M to Strengthen CS Farming

In a significant move to enhance agricultural productivity and support farming communities in climate-vulnerable regions, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) recently handed over a range of farm machinery valued at Rs. 65.81 million to the Department of Agrarian Development (DAD). The initiative aims to strengthen mechanized farming services for farmers living in hotspot areas where the CSIAP is currently being implemented.

The official handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, with the machinery formally presented by CSIAP Project Director, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, to Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathna, Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development. The event marked another milestone in CSIAP’s continued efforts to modernize Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector through climate-smart investments.

Supporting Farmers with Modern Technology
The consignment of machinery includes a total of 194 individual items, comprising 189 Lowland Power Seeders, four Paddy Combined Harvesters, and one Tractor. These machines are expected to significantly improve farming efficiency, reduce labor constraints, and support timely land preparation, planting, and harvesting activities—particularly in areas affected by climate variability. Lowland Power Seeders will help ensure uniform planting while saving time and labor, whereas Paddy Combined Harvesters will enable faster and more efficient harvesting, minimizing post-harvest losses. The tractor will further strengthen mechanization support services managed by the DAD for farmer use.

 Strengthening Institutional Collaboration
The Ministry of Agriculture warmly welcomed the CSIAP’s support in procuring this essential machinery, emphasizing its importance in improving access to modern agricultural equipment for smallholder farmers. By handing over the machinery to the Department of Agrarian Development, the CSIAP ensures that these assets will be managed, deployed, and maintained through established institutional mechanisms, allowing farmers to access them as needed during critical farming periods. Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Development, and CSIAP participated in the ceremony, highlighting the strong collaboration among institutions working together to promote sustainable and resilient agriculture.

 Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture
This investment reflects the CSIAP’s broader commitment to promoting climate-smart irrigated agriculture by combining infrastructure development, modern technology, and institutional strengthening. By improving mechanization in hotspot areas, the project supports farmers in adapting to climate challenges while increasing productivity and profitability.  Through initiatives such as this, the CSIAP continues to empower farming communities, modernize agricultural practices, and contribute to the long-term sustainability and resilience of Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector. Please see more images of the event.

The CSIAP aims to mitigate Human-Elephant Conflicts in its project area

Results of Human Elephant Comflicts

Human-Elephant Conflict(HEL) reached record heights in Sri Lanka with the death of 121 people and 405 elephants in 2019. At present Sri Lanka records the highest human-elephant conflict in the world. For over 70 years, human-elephant conflict mitigation in Sri Lanka has been based on attempting to confine elephants to protected areas. This effort has completely failed and currently, 70% of elephant range remains outside protected areas. With elephants and people residing in the same landscape over 44% of the land area of Sri Lanka, human-elephant conflict is a problem faced by the vast majority of farming communities in the dry zone. Today HEC is a major conservation, socio-economic and political issue in the country.

Attempts to confine all elephants to protected areas have failed because it is biologically impossible, as the protected areas already carry the number of elephants they can support. Thus, successful human-elephant conflict mitigation requires that people, their crops and property be effectively safeguarded from elephant depredation. Traditional crop guarding and management methods such as chasing and driving elephants are confrontational. Hence, make elephants aggressive towards humans, leading to escalation of conflict. Therefore, it is critical to use non-confrontational methods in preventing elephant depredation. 

Erecting a sesional cultivation fence

Community-based electric fencing is the most effective non-confrontational method of protecting crops, home gardens and settlements. Community-based fences are entirely constructed and maintained by people who face elephant depredation and provide immediate and sustainable relief to them. 

Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando

The appropriate model of community-based electric fencing for seasonal agriculture such as paddy fields are ‘seasonal-fences’. They are constructed by farmers when they start the cultivation, removed at harvest and stored till the next cultivation season. The method has been developed by the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR) and piloted in over 40 paddy fields in the Kurunegala, Hambanthota, Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts. Some of these pilot fences have been in use for periods of up to 12 years and have proved the effectiveness and sustainability of the method. Therefore, the next step is to broad-base the implementation of this approach. 

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is working with CCR to broad base and implement seasonal paddy-field fences through the Department of Agrarian Development. This initiative is expected to bring much needed relief to paddy-farmers from elephant depredation. The CSIAP is planning to facilitate the farmers to protect their crops, harvest and farmlands from wild elephants and to safeguard lives of both humans and animals.

By Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, Chairman, Trustee and Scientist, CCR, Sri Lanka. Images: curtesy  of CCR

The CSIAP takes initiatives to erect community based seasonal cultivation fences

 The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)  is having a special discussion to erect seasonal cultivation fences to mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) with the top officials of the World Bank, Department of Agrarian Development and Center for conservation and Research at the Irrigation Training Institute at Galgamuwa. 

The community-based seasonal cultivation fences prevent elephants from entering and causing irreparable damages to human settlements and cultivations. The human-elephant conflict poses major threats to the well-being of both humans and animals. Crop-raiding by elephants across agricultural areas in Sri Lanka including the hot spot areas where the CSIAP is being implemented can be devastating for small farmers, leading to food insecurity, lost opportunity costs, and even death. Crop-raiding and property damage can also result in negative attitudes towards elephant conservation and retaliatory killings of elephants. 

Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, Chairman, Trustee and Scientist of  CCR, Sri Lanka delivered presentation on  importance of erecting a sessional cultivation fence to mitigate HEC. Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, Elephant Ethologist and former Director General of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka, Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathna, Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development,  Nadeera Rajapaksha, Environmental Specials of the World Bank and Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental & Social Safeguard Specialist delivered speeches on the same subject.

Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Consultant (Agriculture, Food & Rural Development) & Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Directors & Specialists of the CSIAP, and top officials of implementing agencies were present at the discussion.

Please see more images of the discussion.

“Carry out CSIAP’s activities aiming at SL’s development” the Sec. of Agriculture

Dr. Weerasinghe presents the CSIAP's activities while the Secretary and the Project Director look on

The CSIAP should focus on improving the livelihood of the farm community which leads to the betterment of the country, said Mr. D.M.L.D. Bandaranayake, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, in a special discussion with staff held at the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) this morning (04). 

The newly appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture visited PMU to find the CSIAP’s activities out and he was warmly welcomed by the Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna with the CSIAP staff. Deputy Project Director Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe explained what CSIAP is, its activities and current status to Mr. Bandaranayake

In order to do this, we have to take initiatives to change the mindset of farmers and involve farmers in the development processes formally, the Secretary further added.  Continue the CSIAP’s activities in a manner that benefits farmers. It is everyone’s responsibility to dedicate themselves to achieving project activities. For this, I will give my fullest support Mr. Bandaranayake expressed.

“Radiance for Village” is a documentary that shows activities of the CSIAP

“Radiance for Village” a documentary that shows activities of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).
Please click Radiance for Village to watch.

The CSIAP will take the country to the new height of agricultural development

 Today (03rd) is the very first working day for the staff on the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The staff of the CSIAP celebrated the commencement of work for the New Year 2022 with a small celebration in this morning. The event included a speech from the Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna and having Kiribath (Milk Rice) with other sweetmeats.

We have to take the country to the new height of agricultural development via the CSIAP that's why we have to work as a team to reach targets in 2022, Project Director Eng. Rajakaruna said. Our dedication should not be limited to us, but it should be related to the way forward of the CSIAP. Our contribution will open avenues to the progress of agriculture and for this, we have to start from today itself without wasting any moment and particle, he further added.

The project Director expressed his gratitude to the entire project staff for their firm commitments given to continue the project activities during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis that has dealt a significant shock to Sri Lanka’s economy and people.

The World Bank Country Director s memories on the construction site of the FFS

Mr. Faris. H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director, the World Bank arrived in Thirappane, Anuradhapura to lay foundation stones for the Farmer Field School (FFS) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) alone with Ms. Chiyo Kanda, Country Manager and other world bank officials on 22nd this month.

Please click to watch warmly welcoming the World Bank Officials and laying foundation stones

1. Video   2. Slide Show  and    3. The Full Speech of the Country Director after laying foundation stones

And click to read 4. The full story of the Country Director’s vist at Thirappane