The World Bank reviews the progress of the CSIAP

World Bank Officials had an overall review of the project’s progress with the Project Management Unit (PMU). Subject Specialists presented reports on the current status of each subject after observing the CSIAP’s progress in North Central and Eastern provinces. .  Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader lead the World Bank Team with  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne and Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist. Project Director Eng. R.M.b. Rajakaruna, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M. P. Bandaraand senior staff of the CSIAP were present. Please click Images to see more photos of the meeting.

World Bank Officials review the progress of the CSIAP in Eastern Province

 

Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader along with Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne and Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank supervised the rehabilitation of tanks, Crop Cultivation, Home Gardens, constructions of Agrowells during the Progress Review Meeting in the Eastern Province. Members of a Cascade Management Committee and Farmer Organization in Trincomalee had an opportunity to meet world bank officials too. Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M. P. Bandara, Dr. R.M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director (EP) and senior staff of the CSIAP were present.

The Progress Review Meeting of the CSIAP in Eastern Province by MIS

The Progress Review Meeting, which was a scheduled gathering where project stakeholders, come together to assess the status and advancement of activities of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in Eastern Province (EP), was held in the office of the Chief Secretary with  World Bank Officials in Eastern Province recently.  The purpose of this meeting is to evaluate the progress made, discuss any challenges encountered, and determine the next steps to ensure the project stays on track towards its goals. 

The speciality of this meeting is, for the first time ever, the CSIAP presented its provincial progress and operation by Management Information System (MIS ) which allows the CSIAP to have access to accurate data and powerful analytical tools to identify problems, and opportunities quickly and make decisions about its operations accordingly. On behalf of the CSIAP, MIS was designed by a leading software solution provider Celata Tech (Pvt )Ltd. Mr. R M P S Rathnayake, Chief Secretary, EP chaired this meeting. Ms. K.Karthiga, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, presented the progress achieved in the province by MIS. 

Representing the World Bank,  Dr.  Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader attended this meeting with  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant and Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne of the World Bank. Senior Officials of implementing agencies, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M. P. Bandara, Dr. R.M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director (EP) and senior staff of the CSIAP were present.

Visiting FTS and meeting members of CMC in NCP by World Bank Officials

During the Progress Review Meeting in the North Central Province, the team of World Bank led by  Dr.  Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader along with  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne and Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank visited Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane to see its current progress. They also engaged in a pleasant conversation with the farmers who were on a three-day residential programme to find out their views on the FTS.

World Bank Officials also participated in the meeting of the Cascade Management Committee (CMC) held at the National Institute of Post Harvest Management (NIPHM). Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M. P. Bandara, Mr. S.M. Seelarathna, Deputy Project Director (NCP) and senior staff of the CSIAP were present. 

The Progress Review Meeting of the CSIAP in the North Central Province held

The Progress Review Meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in the North Central Province (NCP) was held with the participation of the World Bank officials in the office of the Chief Secretary in the NCP recently. This meeting, which has been chaired by Mr. L.J.M.G.Chandrasiri Bandara, Chief Secretary, NCP, was held to assess the status and advancement of the CSIAP’s activities in the province and to discuss achievements, challenges, and next steps. The World Bank Officials visit every province once in six months to collaborate with others, stay aligned with the project goals, receive feedback, contribute to decision-making, and address challenges effectively.

The World Bank Team headed by Dr.  Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader attended this meeting with  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne and Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank. Senior Officials of implementing agencies, Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M. P. Bandara, Mr. S.M. Seelarathna, Deputy Project Director (NCP) and senior staff of the CSIAP were present. 

Youth Agri Entrepreneurship Model Villages Programme in Southern by the CSIAP

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Projector or the CSIAP  is investing Rs. 559 million to develop Kavantissapura and Julpallam villages located in Yodhakandiya Agriculture Service Center area of Hambantota as agricultural model villages. The CSIAP aims to develop these villages in tandem with the Youth Agri Entrepreneurship Model Villages Programme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture. Agricultural inputs including seeds, micro-irrigation systems, insect-proof nets, polytunnels, and water pumps worth Rs. 40 million have been provided to these villages where there are about 4979 beneficiary farmers. The program to develop these two villages as model villages were declared opened by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture,  on 10^th this month in Kavanthissapura and Julpallam.

Under this model village programme, it plans to modernize agriculture, attract youth to agriculture, improve the living conditions of beneficiary farmers, promote climate smart agriculture technology, exchange experiences among beneficiary farmers and promote climate smart home gardens. Apart from this, the CSIAP takes the initiative to  support crops such as mangoes, oranges, papayas, pomegranates and wood apples, as well as flowers, mushrooms, chilies, capsicum and vegetables identified by the Participatory Rural Approach (PRA) which was carried out with the participation of the beneficiary farmers.

 Also, the CSIAP plans to rehabilitate tanks, agricultural roads, common & individual agro wells, and provide micro-irrigation systems, water pumps operated using solar panels, water motors operated by electricity and fuel, rainwater tanks to collect water for home gardens, polythene bags and seeds for home gardening. Cultivation in polytunnel, floriculture targeting sacred places and crop cultivation with micro irrigation in insect-proof nets will also be promoted. Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M. P. Bandara,  Deputy Project Director (Southern) Mr. Mahinda Suwandaarachchi, Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were present in the programme which was organized by the  Deputy Project Director’s Office of the CSIAP.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, CSIAP & Pathum Rasanjan, Ministry of Agriculture

Workshop on Cascade Management Committee and strengthening of FO

The two-day Workshop on Cascade Management Committee and strengthening of Framer Organization held at the Agrarian Training Institute at Phothuhera recently was charred by Eng. R. M. B. Rajakaruna, Project Director of Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project. Lectures on different topics were delivered as follows

• Operations and maintenance of rehabilitated tanks by Mr. ‘Sumith Chandana, Commissioner, DAD with R. P.M. Dissanayake, ID&CB Specialist (Southern), CSIAP
• Forming of Cascade Farmer Organization by Mr. R. Vijayakumar, Commissioner, DAD with Eng. N.A.I.U.K. Nissanka, WM Specialist (PMU), CSIAP
• Why CSIAP applies cascade management approach in the tank by Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant, the World Bank
• Is the Cascade Management Committee another jargon by Mr. Sarath Wickramarathna, Consultant, the World Bank
• Progress of Cascade Management Committee by Mr. D.V. Bandulasena, ID&CB Specialist (PMU), CSIAP
• Legalization of Cascade Management Committee under the Agrarian Development Act by Mr. Eranga Athapaththu, Assistant Commissioner, DAD.
• Presentation on Legalization of Cascade Management Committee  

 Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this workshop