“ It is important to speed up activities to reach CSIAP’s PDOs” says Secretary, MoA

Secretary Mr. Bandaranayake addressing the audience 

We need to act fast to reach Project Development Objectives (PDOs ) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project ( CSIAP) in a timely manner according to the schedule, said Mr. D.M.L Bandaranayake,  Secretary to the Ministry of  Agriculture on the final day of the 03 day special workshop conducted to develop the Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for the Project Component- 1 of CSIAP  held yesterday (07th) at Janki Hotel, Colombo.

When local projects in the country have been halted due to the current economic crisis, an opportunity has arisen for you to do something for the country with a foreign-funded project like the CSIAP, the Secretary expressed. You should think of moving forward by fulfilling your own duties and responsibilities. The focus should be on the physical development of the project. Therefore, we must all work together to develop the country through agriculture and uplift the living standards of the farming community, Mr. Bandaranayake further added.

The CSIAP's Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Provincial Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists and Subject Officers attended this workshop which was organized by the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of the Project Management Unit, CSIAP Mr. Bandula Sirimal. Please click Images to see more photos of the final day.

A 03-day workshop on the development of the CAP commences

Project Director Eng. Rajakaruna addressing his staff  on the inaugural day of the workshop

A 03 day special workshop on the development of the Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for the Project Component- 1 of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) began under the patronage of the CSIAP's Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna this morning (05th) at Hotel Janaki, Colombo. This workshop is structured to develop a set of norms for the preparation of a detailed action plan which will seed up CSIAP’s activities till the project ends in 2024.

Day 01:

* Adoption of CSA practices for Agriculture production and demonstration of the effectiveness of CSA practices through FBS and uptake of CSA practices through Producer Society/Producer Association

* Institutional development and marketing

* Cascade Management and Operation & Management of the Irrigation Systems (identifying the activities for Cascade management and Operation & Management

Day 02:
* Preparation of overall action plan for agriculture production and marketing for each province with separate plans for ASC with a focus on the planning of cascade
 
Day 03:  
* Continuation of overall action plan preparation for agriculture production and marketing for each province based on the comments given for ASC level action plans

Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists and Subject Officers attended this workshop which was organized by the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of the Project Management Unit, CSIAP Mr. Bandula Sirimal. Please click to see Images more photos of the above programme.

The WB Officials discussed the MTR of the CSIAP with the top officials of NCP

 
The World Bank Officials headed by Professor Ravichandran Kannan (CSA Specialist) of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations met Mr. Chandrasiri Bandara, the Chief Secretary of the North Central Province (NCP) on the Mid Term Review (MTR) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) at the Chief Secretariat in Anuradhapura recently. The CSIAP is being implemented in two districts of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in North Central Province. Dr. Athula Senaratne (Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank, Mr. Maheepala Herath, Govender, Senior Officials of Provincial Council and implementing agencies in NCP, Mr. Lakshman Premanath, (Deputy Project Director-NCP), Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were present in this event.

The MTR of the CSIAP held between the WB and Officials in Northern Province

The Mid Term Review (MTR) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) was held between representatives of the World Bank and officials of the Northern Province (NP) chaired by Mr. S. M. Saman Bandulasena, Chief Secretary, Northern Province at the Chief Secretariat in Jaffna recently. The CSIAP is being implemented in districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the Northern Province. Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan (Consultant - Agriculture & Rural Development) of the World Bank, Mr. Dinesh Kumar Manhachery (Hydrologist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Consultant), Senior Officials of Provincial Council and implementing agencies in the NP, Mr. George Chandra Babu, (Deputy Project Director-NP), Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this event. Please click Images to see more photos of the MTR of the NP.

The WB Officials discuss the MTR of the CSIAP with the Chief Secretary of UP

The World Bank team discusses the Mid Term Review (MTR) of the CSIAP with Mr. P. B. Wijayarathna, the Chief Secretary of the Uva Province (UP) at the Chief Secretariat in Badulla recently . The CSIAP is being implemented in the district of  Monaragala in UP. The World Bank Team included Dr. Athula Senaratne (Senior Agriculture Specialist) of the World Bank, Professor Rathinasamy Saleth (Climate Smart Agriculture, Producer Collectives & Enterprise Promotion, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Consultant) and Professor Ravichandran Kannan (CSA Specialist, FAO Consultant). Senior Officials of Provincial Council and implementing agencies in UP, Mr. I.H. Dharmasekara, (Deputy Project Director-UP), Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this event. Please click Images to see more photos of the MTR of the UP.  

The World Bank Officials inspect Farm Machinery Unit at Weerawila

World Bank Officials inspecting Farm Machinery Unit at Weerawila

 The World Bank Officials visited the Farm Machinery Unit (FMU) established at the Agrarian Service Center (ASC) in Weerawila, Hambantota during the Mid Term Review (MTR) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The Department of Agrarian Development (DAD) with the help of the CSIAP, planned to commence the FMU as one of the major interventions for the ASC to act as an efficient and effective one-stop service centre. It is also expected to provide a better service for the farmers through the ASC to solve critical issues such as lack of agriculture machinery, which hinders expected productivity of the farmer lands and reduces the high production cost and thereby improving the life condition of the farmers in the CSIAP areas. The DAD plans to pilot two such units in Parangiyawadiya and Weerawila ASCs respectively in Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts this year with the financial assistance of the CSIAP. The total estimated cost of the two pilot Units is approximately Rs 240 million and the CSIAP invests Rs 195.39 million two ASCs mentioned above.  

Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan (Consultant - Agriculture & Rural Development),  Mr, Shanek Fernando (Social Development Specialist), Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne (Consultant - Institutions) and Mr. Mohamed Ameen (Consultant - Capacity Building, Fiduciary) of the World Bank, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna (Project Director), Mr. Mahinda Suwandaarachchi (Deputy Project Director- Southern Province), Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were present in this event. 

The World Bank discusses the MTR of the CSIAP with the ministry of Agriculture

The World Bank Officials headed by Mr. John. C. Keyser, Senior Agriculture Economist and the Task Team Leader of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) had a special discussion of the Mid Term Review (MTR) of the CSIAP with Mr. D. M.L. Bandaranayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture this afternoon at the Ministry. The World Bank Officials joined the meeting remotely via WebEx video conferencing. Senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director and specialists of the CSIAP attended this meeting. Please click Images to see photos of the meeting.