Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-08

Mr. S.M. Saman Bandulasena, a reputed and well-experienced retired Special Grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, assumed the role of Project Director for the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). Mr. Bandulasena takes responsibility for overseeing the entire CSIAP’s activities, ensuring alignment with the project’s objectives and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to achieve project milestones. From now onwards, the new Project Director steers the CSIAP with his expertise towards its intended goals to ensure the project’s success while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency.

Mr. Bandulasena has held various positions such as Assistant Commissioner of Elections, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Elections, Divisional Secretary, Additional District Secretary, Secretary to Provincial Ministry, District Secretary, Chief Secretary  and Senior Additional Secretary to the President since he joined the administrative service in 1998.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-05

The World Bank Team of the 13th Implementation Support and Review Mission of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) arrived in Eastern Province to evaluate the implementation and performance of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project. The World Bank’s supervision is critical for maintaining accountability, enhancing transparency, and ensuring the effectiveness of the CSIAP. Representing the World Bank, the Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader Dr.  Sheu Salau with Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan and Consultant Prof. V.K. Ravichandran visited Eastern Province today (04th) to review the implementation of CSIAP to achieve developmental goals and maximize the impact of financial assistance from the World Bank. This mission is essential for ensuring the CSIAP meets its objectives and adhering to the agreed timelines, budgets, and guidelines. Key elements such as assessment of progress, problem identification, stakeholders’ engagements, compliance checks and capacity building were reviewed during this mission.

Dr. Sheu and his colleagues witnessed the Rehabilitation process of the Neelapanikan Tank, the function of the Groundnut Pod Separator Machine provided to the Thiriyai Producer Society, cultivation under Agrowell with a Sprinkler Irrigation System & Insect Proof Net and Maha Cultivation of Maize in grow bags at Thiriyai. During this mission, the World Bank Officials participated in a farmers' business school training programme at Thiriyai and awarded certificates to farmers from Thiriyai & Kattukulam Producer Societies who completed training classes at Farm Business School (FBS). After the ceremony, farmers shared their experiences in the FBS training with the World Bank Team and posed for a group photograph with them too.

Finally, the Progress Review Meeting was held to observe subject-wise progress at the Uppuweli Agrarian Service Center, Trincomalee.  Marking the World Bank Supporting Mission, “Journey of CSIAP EP from 2019 - 2024", a publication written on the CSIAP achievements from the inception of the project,  was handed over to World Bank Teams by Institutional Developments and Capacity Building Specialist Mr. S. Naveendradas and Monitoring & Evaluation Officer Ms. K. Karthiga. The overall progress of the CSIAP’s activities achieved in Eastern Province was presented through Management Information Systems (MIS) by Monitoring & Evaluation Officer Ms. K. Karthiga. Mr. H.B. Anees, Deputy Project Director of the CSIAP in Eastern Province guided and facilitated this World Bank Mission in Eastern Province with his staff.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-04

The World Bank Team of the 13th Implementation Support and Review Mission of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) observed the progress of the project in Monaragala District today (03rd). Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).  The Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader Dr.  Sheu Salau with Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan and Consultant Prof. V.K. Ravichandran of the World Bank look into the implementation and outcomes of initiatives, identify challenges, gaps, or areas for improvement and ensure that resources are being used effectively. 

The World Bank Team witnessed Field Cannels, Tanks to be rehabilitated, Cultivation Fields, farmers using Solar Pumps  and a farmer selling value-added products. The World Bank Team had opportunities to meet farmers benefiting from the CSIAP. Mr. D.M.L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director of the CSIAP in Southern and Uva Provinces facilitated this World Bank Mission in Southern with his staff.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU and Thamindu Sandaruwan, SP&UP, CSIAP 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-03

The World Bank Team of the 13th Implementation Support and Review Mission of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) commenced this morning (02nd) in Southern Province to monitor, assess, and evaluate the progress of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).  This mission allows the World Bank Officials to observe the implementation and outcomes of initiatives, identify challenges, gaps, or areas for improvement and ensure that resources are being used effectively. 

The World Bank Team led by Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader Dr.  Sheu Salau with Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan and Consultant Prof. V.K. Ravichandran witnessed Rehabilitated Tanks, Electric Fencing, Spillways, Field Cannels, Sluice Gates, Cultivation Fields and a Cascade Management Committee Meeting in areas in Southern Province where the CSIAP is being implemented. The World Bank Team had opportunities to meet farmers benefiting from the CSIAP. Finally, both Southern & Uva Provinces' Progress Review Meeting was held to observe subject-wise progress at the Deputy Project Director’s Office in Southern & Uva Provinces in Thanamalwila. Mr. D.M.L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director of the CSIAP in Southern and Uva Provinces facilitated this World Bank Mission in Southern with his staff.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU and Thamindu Sandaruwan, SP&UP, CSIAP 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-12-02

The World Bank Officials led by Task Team Leader (TTL) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) & Mission Leader Dr.  Sheu Salau and his team met Mr. D. P. Wickremasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation this morning (29^th) to express their views on the progress of the CSIAP’s, emphasizing milestones achieved and strategies for addressing challenges to achieve project development objectives.

During this meeting, the World Bank reiterated its commitment to working closely with the ministry to ensure the success of the CSIAP. The next project review will take place in six months. Senior Officials of the ministry and Mr. Sumith Chandana, Project Director, CSIAP attended this meeting with Mr. H. M. P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director, Subject Specialists and Officers of the project.

Photograph by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-11-29

The World Bank Officials visited the Project Management Unit of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) this morning (28th) to assess the overall development progress of the CSIAP and its effectiveness in delivering project development objectives. Representing the World Bank, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader Dr.  Sheu Salau led the World Bank Team. Mr. Sumith Chandana, Project Director attended this meeting with the CSIAP team of Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists and Officers.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-11-28

Micro irrigation systems such as Sprinkler irrigation systems, Drip irrigation systems, Micro jet and Rain hose systems were provided to 549 farmers in the North Western Province, 840 farmers in the North Central Province, 693 farmers in the Northern Province, 502 farmers in the Eastern Province, 691 farmers in Uva Province and 512 farmers in the southern province.

By using micro irrigation, the water required by the plant is given near the root system at proper intervals. The project farmers are able to receive more yield from their farms using micro irrigation, despite the prevailing water scarcity in the project area due to prolonged drought. Besides, farmers have the convenience of applying fertilizer to the crop through this irrigation system itself and farmers are able to cultivate crops throughout the year and get more income from off-season cultivation.

The CSIAP has already rehabilitated 1142 agro wells so far and obtained a yield of 3082 metric tons through cultivating 1112 hectares of land under these rehabilitated wells. The project also establishes sprinkler or drip irrigation systems using solar water pumps in these cultivation fields, thereby reducing the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. Saving the cost of fuel by using solar water pumps is another benefit to the farmers. CSIAP wishes to reveal that, 707 hectares of land are currently being cultivated using micro irrigation systems, within the project area.

Agriculture Devision, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-11-19

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-11-19

The year-end National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) Meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) was held this morning (24th) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The NPSC, which is set up at the ministry to provide governance, and strategic oversight, take the overall responsibility for executing the CSIAP and support throughout the project's lifecycle, is chaired by the ministry’s secretary Mr. M. P. N. M. Wickramasinghe.

The committee's existence ensures that the CSIAP aligns with the organization's goals, delivers value, and adheres to budgetary and timeline constraints. Their involvement is crucial to the project's success, where alignment with project goals is essential. The NPSC essentially bridges the gap between senior management and the project team, providing strategic support and ensuring the project delivers the intended value. The NPSC will consist of key officials of the major stakeholder agencies of the central government and provincial government to provide policy guidance to the project and to ensure CSIAP’s objectives are achieved.

The CSIAP's Project Director Mr. Sumith Chandana attended this meeting with Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M.P. Bandara and subject specialists. Chief Secretaries of provinces where the CSIAP is being implemented, Senior Officials of implementing agencies and some Provincial Deputy Project Directors of the CSIAP joined the meeting remotely along with World Bank Officials.  Ms. Latheesha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development) and Ms. Anuradha Dharmasena, Director (Development) of the ministry were also present at this meeting.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-24

Mr. Attanayake flanked by  Mr. Bandara, explains the objectives of the workshop

The ultimate goal of this workshop is to speed up activities to reach the project’s development objective by the end of the project period.

Project Director Mr. Chandana addressing the audience

Commencing the workshop, Deputy Project Director (PMU) Mr. H.M.P. Bandara stated the importance of this workshop to achieve project objectives for the betterment of the country. Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists Mr. Nalaka Attanayake explained the goal of the workshop. While doing the group work in the afternoon today, Project Director Mr. Sumith Chandana pointed out the need to work collectively as a team and achieve the workshop's objectives.

Group activities were conducted under every subject covering each component of the project to prepare a plan to move forward. The Monitoring & Evaluation Unit of the CSIAP organized the workshop under the guidance of the Project Director Mr. Sumith Chandana and Deputy Project Director DPD (PMU) Mr. H.M.P. Bandara.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-14

The CSIAP Project, implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, aims to guide the farming community living in the project area to use CSA technologies and train them to cope with and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change by building this training school. Training sessions are also conducted for technical personnel during the project period.

The construction of the Farmer Training School started on 22nd December 2021 and was opened on 4th December 2022. The coordinator of this school, Mr. Sajith Ekanayake, says that the school is used to train farmers to give hands-on experience in CSA practices and technologies and address challenges to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and food security.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-13

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-08

The Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project (CSIAP), which implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and funded by the World Bank, completed rehabilitation works of 470 tanks in selected hotspots areas with the aim of improve the productivity and build climate resilience of small holder agriculture sector in selected hotspot areas.

The CSIAP, which is being implemented in 11 districts covering 06 provinces namely North-West, North-Central, Northen, East, Uva and Southern, rehabilitated  116 tanks in Kurunegala district, 28 tanks in Puttalam district, 56 tanks in Anuradhapura district, 10 tanks in Polonnaruwa district, 34 tanks in Kilinochchiya district, 47 ​​tanks in Mullaitivu district, 29 tanks in Trincomalee district, 21 tanks in Batticaloa district, 19 tanks in Ampara district, 36 tanks in Monaragala district and 74 tanks in Hambantota district completely. Therefore, 30,000 farming families will be able to cultivate 38,000 acres of land to boost the agro-economy of the country.

In addition to this, by December 2025, the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project has prepared plans to rehabilitate another 205 tanks with an estimated cost of  Rs. 4200 million. This will benefit 12,000 farming families and enable them to cultivate 15,000 acres of land in hotspot areas. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-07

Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna, Senior Engineer Gamini Wijayawardhana and Dr.  Janaka Jayawardena receive gifts from newly appointed Project Director Mr. K. A. Sumith Chandana

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) gave a fond farewell to former Project Director Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna, Senior Engineer Gamini Wijayawardhana and Social Safeguard Specialist Dr.  Janaka Jayawardena who had been pivotal members of the CSIAP for last few years. Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna (joined on 08th Aug 2021) has shown great leadership and made a tremendous contribution to the CSIAP during his period. Senior Engineer Gamini Wijayawardhana (joined on 02nd Mar 2023) had been an enthusiastic figure throughout his time at the CSIAP. Dr.  Janaka Jayawardena (joined on 20th Jan 2020) had also been actively involved in various subjective activities including erecting sessional electric fences and planting trees in the project area.

We are incredibly grateful for everything they have contributed over the years thank them for their boundless energy, hard work and dedication to the CSIAP. They are leaving the CSIAP when the  CSIAP is at a good level, with plans in place to grow the project steadily even in future. Everyone at the CSIAP wishes them well in their future endeavours.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-10-03

The CSIAP takes the initiative to rehabilitate 33 tanks inside the forest area and another 30 tanks within 300 meters of the forest reservation in its project area too. To obtain clearance from the Department of Forest Conservation to rehabilitate the above tanks, a high-level workshop led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources along with the CSIAP and the Department of Forest Conservation was held today (27^th) at Hotel Kamrel in Kurunegala.

Benefits of tanks to be rehabilitated in the Forest Areas
1. Enhanced Water Availability:  A rehabilitated tank provides a reliable water source for both wildlife and surrounding farming communities. This can improve agricultural productivity, especially for forest-dependent communities, and ensure the health of local ecosystems.

2. Biodiversity Conservation: By restoring water sources in forest areas, the rehabilitated tanks help conserve biodiversity by providing habitats for aquatic species and drinking water for land-based wildlife.

3. Reduction in Human-Wildlife Conflicts: With access to clean water, wildlife is less likely to venture into human settlements, thereby reducing conflict and ensuring both human and animal safety.

4. Climate Resilience: Properly maintained water tanks contribute to the resilience of forest ecosystems in the face of climate change. By storing water and recharging groundwater, these tanks buffer ecosystems against drought and other climate-induced stresses.

Rehabilitating tanks in forest areas is an environmentally sound and socially beneficial practice that aligns with conservation efforts and sustainable development. The restored water bodies not only support forest health but also provide essential resources to the wildlife and farming communities that depend on them. Effective rehabilitation projects require collaboration between forest conservation management authorities, environmental organizations, and local farming communities to ensure the long-term preservation of these valuable resources. For this purpose, the CSIAP gathered all relevant parties to achieve the main objectives.

Ms. Anuradha Dharmasena, Director, (Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources chaired the table and Mr. M.A.A.M. Jayarathne, Additional Forest Conservator General, Mr. Sumithra Gunathilaka, Forest Conservator, Mr. Wasantha Gajanayake, Forest Conservator, Mr. G. R. P.B. Senarathne, Forest Conservator, Ms. Devani Jayathilaka, Assistant Forest Conservator and forest officers representing 11 districts of six provinces in project areas attended this workshop.  The CSIAP team is headed by Project Director Eng. R. M. B. Rajakaruna with Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists, Environmental Safeguard Officers and Social Safeguard Officers.  Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist of the CSIAP organized this programme. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-09-27

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-09-20

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-09-20

Banana is one of the most important fruit crops in the world and Banana cultivation has been expanding globally due to its higher demand and market value. To enhance the Banana productivity, farmers in Hotspot areas, where the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is being implemented,  have been practising novel Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) techniques such as Micro Irrigation to combat the impact of climate change.

The objective of the Banana Project: This Banana cultivation program aims to produce high-quality bananas that meet international standards to satisfy the demand of the export market, using high-tech CSA Agronomic practices, and adapting farmers for climate change impact.

Implementation arrangements
Project location: The project is being implemented in Rambe ASC Division at Niyadawanaya GND, within the Pothuwapitiya cascade in Kurunegala District.

Beneficiary selection and implementation: A farmer group with 20 members (each farmer owns ½ Ac land) are involved for this program. The farmer selection has been carried out by considering the factors such as land availability, water availability and the farmers willingness to adopt new CSA technics and share those technics among the other farmers in the village. A Producer Society is formed with the involvement of these farmers to ensure equal benefit distribution and Market Linkage development

CSA Agronomic Intervention established: Since this area exists within the climate change-affected Hotspot area, the prominent CSA strategies have been adopted as follows to ensure the success of this program despite the climate change impact.

1)    The main climate change impact for this area is prolonged drought. Hence, we have selected the Cavendish banana variety, which is a drought tolerant crop compared to other banana varieties, recommended for the dry zone.

2)    To ensure the optimum soil moisture usage and minimize the soil water evaporation here, farmers have followed the high-density planting method by accommodating 750 Banana plants per Acre. The planting spacing is 1.5 x 1.5 meters within rows and 4 meters in between within 2 rows. Also promoted the intercropping within Banana plants during the growing stage.

3)    To increase the soil moisture retention and provide micronutrients for the plants, farmers were encouraged to apply 20 Kg of organic manure with Paddy husk charcoal to the planting pit at the time of planting.

4)    To overcome the water scarcity during the drought season, have introduced the Microjet irrigation system with fertigation.

5)    To improve the Banana quality and protect the Banana bunch from pest and disease attacks, promote covering the bunch with a white polythene layer.

Contribution to the Banana Project: This project is carried out as a joint venture, with the contribution of all 03 parties as follows.

1)    The CSIAP contributes to initiating this program, selecting potential farmers and forming them as Producer Society and arrange farmer training programs and exposure visit for the capacity building of farmers.

2)    In addition, the CSIAP assists farmers in carrying out compost production programmes and provides a microjet irrigation system for all farmers to productively utilize available limited water resources.

3)    The beneficiary farmers make their contribution by providing Agri inputs, planting materials and labour.

4)    The DOA offered their contribution by providing technical knowledge on Cavendish banana cultivation and arranging exposure visits to observe the Banana plantation and processing units operating for export purposes.

Meantime, CSIAP arranged to sign a tri-party buyback agreement with the buyer for the period of 05 years by stating the minimum purchasing prices for grade 01 and grade 02 Banana yield.

Anticipated production & income: The economic lifespan of the banana plants is considered as 03 years. Hence, a farmer could be able to receive production, income and profit during 03 years period from this Banana cultivation as follows.

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project, a World Bank-funded project, is implemented under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture & Plantation Industries (MOA & PI). The main objective of the project is to increase farm & water productivity and build the resilience of the climate change-affected farmers in Hotspot areas. The project is implemented in 11 Hotspot areas in 06 Provinces covering 09 River basins

By Frank Jayasinghe, Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-09-12

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-08-06

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is designed to improve the productivity and climate resilience of smallholder agriculture in 11 selected districts: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kilinochchi, Mulativu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Monaragala and Hambantota situated in dry zone in Sri Lanka by focusing on three key components: (a) agricultural production,  (b) agricultural marketing and (c) water for agriculture. This PDO is planned to be achieved through investments in the following activities: (i) modernization and improved management of irrigation, drainage and flood protection systems; (ii) implementation of participatory water management plans; (iii) adoption of climate-smart agricultural and water use practices and technologies; and (iv) enhanced value addition and improved access to storage and marketing.  The project area covers 47 Agrarian Service Center Divisions, 258 Grama Niladhari Divisions, and around 70000 farmer families. The project has been addressing the key problem of the vulnerability of agriculture systems in climatic hot spot areas of the country since its inception in 2019.

   Please click    North Central Province                                                 North Western Province                                                      Northern Province                        

                                  Eastern Province                                                              Uva Province                                                             Southern Province to watch videos produced to show the progress achieved in each province where the CSIAP is being implemented.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-28

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-07-17

These programmes, in which even the project staff participated, consisted of  Orientation & Introduction; (45 Minutes), Characteristics of Leadership concepts (01 hour), Out Bounce Activities: (05 hours & 30 minutes) and Summary, feedback from participants & Closing remarks: (30 minutes). Inaugurating the event as a Chief Guest, Mr. A. G. C. Babu, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP-Northern Province expressed the CSIAP project interventions and crucial roles of the participants & purpose of the Training programme.  Mr. S. Nilojan, Acting Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist, CSIAP- Northern province explained the goal of these programmes, guidelines and basic instructions.  

Conducting these training programmes, Mr. B. Sribavan, Humen Recourse Development Officer, District Secretariat - Jaffna discussed the theme of the training programme, course content and major outcome of the programme and presented Leadership & Teambuilding concepts, Types of leadership, Importance of leadership, Skills and  Characteristics of Leaders while Mr. S. Kalatharan, Development Officer, Pradeshiya Sabha – Nallur, facilitated the session with brainstorming activities. During these programmes, participants were fully engaged in the “Team Up” activity and learned how to organize a team properly. Participants were involved in different learning activities such as Cane balancing with the floor, Ball passing among team members, Human tunnel, Tower building, Hula Hoop Activity, Risk zone recovery, Number training and Rope chain training, etc. Later, they have an opportunity to gain knowledge on  Communication (Non- Verbal, Non- Violence), Collaboration, Critical thinking, Creativity, Initiative, Decision making, Out of box thinking, Flexibility, Productivity, Self Confidence, Self-evaluation, Resource management and  Skill identification etc.  

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-06-19

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-06-14

The first day of the workshop was held at the Four Point Resort and matters relating to the historical aspect of the tank cascade system in Sri Lanka, the roles and responsibilities of CMCs and the process of preparing CMPs were discussed. In the afternoon the guidelines for preparation of Zonal Land Use Plans were discussed with group work to finalize the guidelines. The second day of the program was scheduled a field visit to the Meehondawewa cascade to identify various components of it and find out various degradation issues arisen in the cascade due to human and non-human activities. The field visit was also facilitated by an expert on the subject. The workshop was very successful and it will help all the participants to perform the assigned task effectively.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-06-12

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-05-30

The wrap up meeting of Implementation Support Mission, which involves summarizing the work done by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), highlighting key achievements, discussing lessons learned, and planning for any necessary follow-up actions, was held this morning at the Department of External Resources. This meeting ensures that all aspects of the project are reviewed, and that team members and stakeholders are aligned on the outcomes and next steps. This approach promotes transparency, learning, and continuous improvement of the project.

Mr. Samantha Bandara, Additional Director General, Department of External Resources  chaired this meeting along with Ms. Nalani Amaratunga, Additional Director General, Department of National Budget, Mr. Asiri Ranaweera, Director, Department of Treasury Operations , Mr. P.H. Chandima, Director, Department of Project Management and Monitoring , Mrs. Vijini Gunawardena, Deputy Director, Department of National Planning and Ms. Kausi Jayasinghe, Assistant Director, World Bank Division of Department of External. Representing the World Bank, Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist was also present.

Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader of the CSIAP and Mission Leader of the World Bank, Mrs. Lathisha. P. Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries and Ms. Himali Bogodagedara, Director -World Bank Division of Department of External Resources remotely joined the meeting.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-05-30

The NPSC, which is  set up at the Ministry of Agriculture to take the overall responsibility in executing the CSIAP, will consist of key officials of the major stakeholder agencies of the central government, and provincial government,  mainly to provide policy guidance to the project and to ensure achieving CSIAP’s objectives. The World Bank Officials and Chief Secretaries of provinces where the CSIAP is being implemented joined the meeting remotely. The CSIAP team was led by Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna along with the Project Director, Provincial Deputy Project Directors and Subject Specialists in this meeting.

Photograph by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku. PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-05-22

The Monthly Progress Review meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), which serves as a critical checkpoint where the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, evaluates the CSIAP’s progress, addresses any issues and aligns their efforts to ensure the project stays on track, was held today (20th) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries (MoAPI).  This meeting was chaired by Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary with Ms. Latheesha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development),  Ms. Anuradha Dharmasena, Director,  (Development)  of the MoAPI.  The CSIAP team was led by Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director.

Photograph by Nikeshala, Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-05-20

Uplift household-level nutritional security by maximum use of Home Garden production and uncommon vegetables

 In the current context of Sri Lanka, achieving a balanced meal is challenging, which leads to food insecurity (UNICEF, 2023). Therefore, to minimize this issue a research team from the Department of Applied Nutrition of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka conducted a study to design One-Dish Meals (ODMs) for using underutilized and uncommon vegetables and grains such as pumpkin, winged bean, mung bean, cowpea and green leafy vegetables. The study aimed at designing nutritious and high-satiety response ODMs at affordable prices. The ODM concept ensures proper nutrition in a single meal through a balanced ratio of calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrates, including plant-based vitamins and minerals (One-Dish-Meals-of-South-Asia, 2015).

After the successful results of sensory and satiety response evaluations done by the Wayamba University team, it was tried to expand to a broader area in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries (MoA&PI) seeks to implement this intervention with the collaboration of the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka (WUSL) under the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) which is financed by the World Bank.

Therefore, a Training of Trainers (ToT) was conducted with the resource persons from the WUSL, under the guidance of MoA&PI, and implemented by the CSIAP with the multi-sectorial collaboration in Sri Lanka. Out of 93 participants (18 male & 75 female), 14 participants were from the educational sector, 05 participants from the health sector, 69 participants from the agricultural sector, and 05 participants from other relevant institutions. A practical ToT session was conducted recently, at the In-Service Training Center, Gannoruwa.

* Food affordability     
* Food accessibility          
* Food availability        
* Food Utilization of the Poor People. 

At the end of the ToT program, participants were able to understand the maximum use of underutilized vegetables, and the use of uncommon vegetables to the ODM, and gained knowledge on dietary diversity and enhancement of household nutrition. 

3o One-Dish Meals prepared and demonstrated are below

1-Waya Pumpkinach Melange | 2-Waya Pumpkinasia Patch | 3-Waya Murungasia Rice | 4-Waya Ashybean Sizzle | 5-Waya Beetanash Mix  |          6-Waya Pumpkileeks Savory | 7-Waya Cowpeanach Combo | 8-Waya Leeky Pea Carota |  9-Waya Ashleekin Medley | 10-Waya Leeky Cowpeanash | 11-Waya Long Lasiea | 12-Waya Chickpea Delight |  13-Waya Drumstick Bliss | 14-Waya Sweetpotato Savor | 15-Waya Veggie Burst |16-Waya Juneplums Medley | 17-Waya Split Pea Delight | 18-Waya Okra Medley | 19-Waya Star Bean Mix | 20-Waya Daikon Bliss | 21-Waya Brinjal Bounty | 22-Waya Brinjal Moringa Stir | 23-Waya Goober Soy Delight | 24-Waya Peanut Crunch | 25-Waya Baby Jackfruit Delicacy |26-Waya Moringasia Blend | 27-Waya Lasia Lotus Rice | 28-Waya Kohlrabi Stick | 29-Waya Munggo Sweet Mix | 30-Waya Vigna Jacky Mix  

Written by  Rashmi Navanjana, Project Trainee, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-05-17

The CSIAP’s Project Director Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna welcomed the World Bank Officials and overall progress was presented afterwards by the MIS. Deputy Project Directors of six provinces, Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were present at this meeting. 

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwaku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-05-03

Dr. R.M. Ariyadasa, Provincial Deputy Project Director (Eastern Province) welcomed the World Bank Officials and Ms. K.Karthiga, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, presented the progress achieved so far by the Management Information System (MIS). Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were present in this meeting.

After the review meeting, the World Bank officials visited Thimbiriwewa in Mahadiulwewa to observe farmers using drum seeder which is a mechanized method of direct seeding, inspected Chili Cultivation and Solar powered Pump,  Chili Cultivation at Atha Bandiwewa in Morawewa and observed the rehabilitation process of Bellankadawala wewa inder Rambawa Cascade in Gomarankadawala.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-04-30

The Progress Review of the Climate Smart Agriculture Project (CSIAP)  in Uva Province was held at the Uva Provincial Office, Wellawaya on 25th this month to keep the World Bank informed about the project's status, addressing any issues promptly, and ensure that the project stays aligned with its objectives and timelines.

Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader Dr.  Sheu Salau led the World Bank Team which consisted of  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Agriculture Specialist Dr. Athula Senarathne and Voice Secondee Ms. Sima Ramrattan from the Republic of Suriname attended this meeting. Mr. D.M.L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director (Uva Province) welcomed the World Bank Officials and the CSIAP Staff,  and presented the overall progress of the province. Subject Specialists and Subject Officers of Uva Province presented the progress of the project activities till April 2024 by MIS.

After the Progress Review Meeting, the World Bank Officials visited the work site of the Hingure Ara tank at Wagurawela in the Buththala to observe the rehabilitation process undertaken by the Hinguruara Shakthi Farmers’ Organization. The rehabilitation of the tank identified by the Parappuwa Cascade Management Committee costs Re. 2.20 million. Members of Hinguruara Shakthi Farmers’ Organization had an opportunity to discuss the work done in the tank with the World Bank Team.

The World Bank Team observed the rehabilitation of the Udarawewa tank in the Buttala and discussed the rehabilitation process of it with farmers and officials of the Department of Agrarian Development (DAD). Officials of the CSIAP in Uva Province pointed out if the farmers could cultivate in the Intermediate Season, cropping intensity under this tank would increase up to 300% which will contribute the economy of the country.

The World Bank team inspected Water Melon Cultivation using insect-proof nets and drip irrigation facilities including Solar Powered Water Pump at Neluwagala in Wellawaya. A Framer Mr. Ariyadasa explained that he managed to make a profit of Rs 600,000.00 from Chillie Cultivation in the insect-proof net with drip irrigation during Maha 2023/24.  Mr.Ariyadasa uses a Solar Powered Water Pump given by CSIAP to irrigate his farm.

Solar Powered Electric Fences erected at 18 Yaya in the Thelulla were inspected by the World Bank.   The land size of 20.8 ha for 25 farmers to cultivate paddy is covered with these fences during this Yala season. The total length of the fence is 2.596 km and farmers insisted that they had not faced crop damages done by wild elephants during the last maha (2022/23) due to these electric fences which cost Rs. 1.298 million with Rs 4.5 million worth of labour.

Finally, the World Bank Officials visited the Chili Cultivation field at Thelulla, which belongs to Farmer Mr. Meththananda, is used with insect insect-proof net, poly mulch and drip irrigation system provided by CSIAP during Yala 2023. The farmer stated that he was able to earn around Rs. 2 million as profit from Chili and Water Melon with the use of equipment provided by the project.   

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-04-29

The World Bank undertakes a comprehensive review of the activities of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in North Central Province to assess the CSIAP’s progress, impact, and effectiveness in addressing the provincial development challenges, on the other hand, it plays a crucial role in ensuring that projects stay on track, issues are addressed promptly, and stakeholders remain informed and engaged.

The World Bank Team headed by Dr.  Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader with  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist Dr. Athula Senarathne, Water Management Specialist Ms. Thiruni Liyanage and  Voice Secondee Ms. Sima Ramrattan from the Republic of Suriname attended the Progress Review Meeting held in the conference hall of Sungreen Resort at Habarana today(29th).

Mr. H. M. P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director (North Central) welcomed the World Bank Officials, and Subject Specialists and Officers of the Deputy Director's Office in North Central Province presented the progress achieved so far by the Management Information System (MIS).  

This time the World Bank chose Polonnaruwa District to observe the CSIAP activities in Hingurakgoda. During this tour, the World Bank officials witnessed the rehabilitation process of Morgagaswewa Cascade, attended the Upperyanoya Cascade Management Committee Meeting at Moragaswewa in  Hingurakgoda, visited Capsicum Cultivation under the rain shelter at Mahasengama, Naimiris Cultivation at Irigeoya and Green Gram Cultivation at Nawagama.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-04-29

The World Bank Team led by Dr.  Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader with  Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist Dr. Athula Senarathne and  Voice Secondee Ms. Sima Ramrattan from the Republic of Suriname conduct progress reviews typically through meetings and field visits involving Project Staff, Government Officials, Farmers and other relevant parties. The aim is to foster transparency, accountability, and collaboration, ultimately ensuring the successful execution and completion of the project.

Inaugurating the Progress Review of Southern Province Mr. R.P. M. Dissanayake, Deputy Project Director (Southern Province) welcomed the World Bank Officials at the Administrative Complex in Hambantota yesterday (26th). He presented the progress achieved so far by the Management Information System (MIS). Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were present in this meeting.

During the Southern tour, the World Bank officials observed the rehabilitation process of Baminiyawa Tank and had a meeting with farmers, attended the meeting of Cascade Management Committee in Divisional Secretariate at  Thissamaharama, visited Chili Cultivation at Kawanthissapura, had Water Management Meeting with farmers at  Punchiappu Jadura and awarded certificates to framers who followed programs at the Farmer Business School at Julpallama.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-04-27

This meeting was chaired by Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary with Ms. Latheesha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development),  Ms. Anuradha Dharmasena, Director,  (Development)  of the MoAPI. On behalf of the World Bank  Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne and Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist were also present. Representing the CSIAP led by the Deputy Project Director Mr. H.M.P. Bandara, Provincial Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists and Engineers attended this meeting too. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-04-02

The Deputy Project Director (DPD)’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in North Central Province led by Deputy Project Director Mr. H.M.P. Bandra organized a special workshop on the Annual Work Plan and Budget 2024 in North Central Province with the participation of Specialists and Engineers of the Project Management Unit (PMU) today (15th) in the DPD’s office in Anuradhapura. Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna explained the necessity and importance of expediting activities within the given time. Group discussions under each subject area were also conducted. This programme aims to speed up project activities within the province up to June 2024 and make officers aware of the new 18th-month plan starting from July 2024.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-15

The Deputy Project Director (DPD)’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in Northern Province led by Deputy Project Director Mr. George Babu organized a special workshop on the Annual Work Plan and Budget  2024 in Northern Province with the participation of Specialists and Engineers of the Project Management Unit (PMU) today (13th) in the DPD’s office in Kilinochchi. Group discussions under each subject area were also conducted. This programme aims to speed up project activities within the province up to June 2024 and make officers aware of the new 18th-month plan starting from July 2024.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-13

Women play a central role not only in the agricultural sector but also in improving the nutritional status of family members - A Feature Article on International Women's Day 2024

Sri Lanka ranks 76th out of 189 countries on the HDI and it scores 0.35 (80th place) on the UN Gender Inequalities Index (2018). The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) interventions directly support 04 key SDGs out of 17; SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 13: Climate Action. Project interventions address the underlying causes of malnutrition by making the food system responsive to these causes to provide adequate, safe, diversified and nutrient-rich food. The CSIAP contributed to improving the nutritional status of individual farmers, their families, and communities. The project is empowering the smallholder farming community in terms of nutritional security enhancement, active citizen engagement, and ensuring gender-inclusive development.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-06

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-06

The photo shows Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director of the CSIAP is explaining about posters displayed in the booth to the minister. The Deputy Project Director of the Southern Province’s Office of the CSIAP Mr. R.P. M. Dissanayake is also there.

The Climates Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) also displays its booth with the aim of new agricultural technology including farm machinery introduced to the farmers and displaying various posters showing project activities such as Climate Smart Agriculture Practices, Tank Rehabilitation, Agroecological Landscape Resilience Plan, Water Management, Framer Training School, Marketing linkages introduced, Environmental & Social safeguard, Women’s contribution to the agriculture sector, improving the nutritional status of family members. Farmers’ products are being sold and Seasonal elephant fencing to mitigate Human and elephant conflict and micro irrigation systems are displayed here.  A model cascade designed in the CSIAP booth attracted the attention of those including school children who came to the exhibition.

Day 01- Highlights of  " Agri Tech 24"

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-03

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-03-03

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-19

 The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) held a special meeting today (16^th) at the Project Management Unit (PMU) to discuss the implementation of 11 Cascade Management Plans (CMPs) which are already prepared and the preparation of another 43 CMPs for the remaining cascades. Project Director Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna chaired this meeting and Provincial Deputy Project Directors and Subject Specialists also participated.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-16

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-16

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The  Regional Director and her team visited the Climate Smart Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane yesterday (08th) to observe the way that the Climate Smart Farmer Training School is running to promote Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Sri Lanka.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-09

A high-level delegation from the World Bank headed by Dr. Dina Umali-Deininger, Regional Director, South Asia Sustainable Development arrived in the Climate Smart Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane yesterday (08th) to observe the way that the Climate Smart Farmer Training School is running to promote Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Sri Lanka. Members of the delegation included Mr. Josses Mugabi, Practice Manager (Water Resources Management), Ms. Anna O’Donnell, Lead Social Development Specialist, Ms. Ipek Alkan, Operations Adviser, Mr. Asela Ekanayake, Senior Operations Officer, Mr. John Keyser, Senior Agriculture Economist and Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Consultant. The World Bank Officials were welcomed by Farmers and their children, and accompanied to the lecture hall in a traditional procession. Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) presented how the CSIAP is working to improve productivity and climate resilience of smallholder agriculture in the area where the CSIAP is being implemented. Farmer leaders who were on the three-day residential programme at the FTS had an opportunity to share their experience in CSA with the Regional Director. Certificates of Participation were given to Farmer leaders by dignitaries during this event. Dr. Dina Umali-Deininger planted a mango tree on the FTS premises to mark her visit. The Deputy Director's Office of the CSIAP  in North Central Province led by Deputy Project Director Mr. H.N.P. Bandara organized this programme and  Specialists and officers of the CSIAP were also present.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-09

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-05

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-02-05

The practical training workshop on Management Information Systems (MIS) commenced at the National Institute of Plantation Management this morning was a valuable initiative to enhance the skills and knowledge of respective Environmental Social Safegurad and Gender officers in Provincial Deputy Project Directors’ Offices of the CSIAP. The workshop aimed to provide the CSIAP Staff with hands-on experience and practical insights into the effective use of Management Information Systems for better decision-making of the CSIAP and its organizational efficiency.

Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental & Social Safeguard Specialist and his team at PMU organized this programme. Mr. Nalaka Attanayake, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist and Mr. Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist, CSIAP contributed to the workshop as resource persons. Monitoring and Evaluation Officers of Provincial Deputy Project Directors’ Offices assisted participants in working on MIS.

Photographs by Ms. Sharmila Shanmuganathan, Gender Office, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-23

The first-ever progress review of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project presented by the Management Information System (MIS) was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries yesterday (17th). This meeting, which was scheduled to assess the project's current state and ensure that the project stays on course and meets its objectives,  is crucial for ensuring that CSIAP’s under the ministry's purview align with its strategic objectives and are carried out effectively.  This meeting was chaired by Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development) with  Ms. Anuradha Dharmasena, Director,  (Development), Ms. Dilupa Ambeypitiya, Deputy Director ( Development) and Officials of the MoA&PI.  Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant, the World Bank, Eng, R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP attended this meeting with Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP.  

The MIS of the CSIAP was designed by the Celata Tech (Pvt) Ltd.

Photograph by Nekeshala kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-17

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-12

The one-day Workshop on the Future of Agri-Business and Marketing Linkage Development (AB&MLD) and Institutional Development & Capacity Building (ID&CB) Activities of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) commenced this morning at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM) at Athurugiriya this morning.   

Areas such as Roles of Provincial DPDs in Achieving the Project Objectives after Re-allocation of duties and Receiving US $ 25 Mn, Role of the ID & CB, CSA, and AB & MLD Specialists after Re-allocation of AB & MLD Activities of CSIAP, Plan for the implementation of the project activities after Re-allocation of AB & MLD Activities, Implementation Plan for the AB & MLD Activities  and ICT&IEC and MIS Activities after Re-allocation of duties  will be discussed throughout the workshop.

Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP explained the Future Focus of CSIAP after the Reallocation of Provincial AB & MLD activities, Receiving US $ 25 Mn. and the Preparation of an Action Plan for $ 25 Mn. Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Economist and Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Senior Consultant, of the World Bank conduct this workshop.

Provincial Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists, Engineers and Technical Officers of the CSIAP attended this meeting.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-11

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Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-03

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-03

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-03

Addressing staff, the Project Director said, as we stand on the threshold of a new year, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the remarkable journey we've shared and to extend my warmest wishes for the year ahead. The past year has been a testament to our collective dedication, passion, and resilience. Our collaborative efforts have made significant strides in working within the project area. Together, we have achieved significant milestones, overcome obstacles, and laid the foundation for future success.

As the Project Director, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and the positive impact we continue moving forward to achieve the CSIAP’s goal. I am profoundly grateful for leading such a talented and passionate team. Your collective efforts have not only contributed to the CSIAP goals but have also fostered a spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose.

As we usher in the New Year, let us continue to build upon our achievements, embrace new opportunities, and strive for excellence in all our endeavours. May the coming year be filled with prosperity, growth, and countless moments of joy and fulfilment. Wishing you a Happy New Year. May 2024 be a year of great accomplishments, personal growth, and shared successes, Eng. Rajakaruna further added.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kidithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2024-01-01

The year-end  National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) Meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) was held at the Ministry of Agriculture recently. The NPSC meeting is chaired by Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture. The NPSC is set up at the Ministry of Agriculture to take the overall responsibility in executing the CSIAP. The NPSC will consist of key officials of the major stakeholder agencies of the central government, provincial government, private sector and the apex level community organizations mainly to provide policy guidance to the project and to ensure achieving CSIAP’s objectives.

The World Bank Officials, Chief Secretaries of provinces where the CSIAP is being implemented, Heads of Government Departments, Senior Officials of implementing agencies, Project Director and Provincial Deputy Project Directors joined the meeting remotely, and senior officials of the ministry and  CSIAP were also present in this meeting. 

Photograph by Nikeshala Kodithuwaku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-12-27

The Year-End Progress Review Meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated agriculture Project (CSIAP) to assess performance, address challenges, ensure alignment with project objectives and stakeholder expectations and maintain momentum towards the successful completion of the project was held with the World Bank at the Project Management Unit (PMU), CSIAP recently. The CSIAP team led by Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director.

The World Bank team headed by Dr. Sheu Salau (Senior Agriculture Economist, Task Team Leader), Dr. Athula Senaratne (Senior Agriculture Specialist), Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan (Consultant – Agriculture & Rural Development), Ms. Nadeera Rajapakse (Environmental Specialist), Mr. Shanek Fernando (Social Development Specialist), Ms. Anula Harasgama (Sr. Financial Management Specialist), Ms. Heenaben Yatin Doshi (Sr. Procurement Specialist), Ms. Sithara Atapattu (Consultant – Environment), Mr. Jayantha Kankanamge (Consultant – Social), Mr. Udara Wijeratne (Consultant – ICT), Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne (FAO Consultant – Institutional Development) and Prof. Ravichandran Kannan (FAO Consultant - CSA Specialist ) attended this meeting.

Photograph by Nikeshala Kodithuwaku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-12-17

The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries welcomes the CSIAP's support in procuring these essential devices, which will go a long way in assisting farmers who may need further education and training at the field level to boost the agro-economy.  Devices, totalling 141 individual items, include 47 Multimedia Projectors, 47 Screens and 47 Laptops. 

Under ASC Digitalization programme, the CSIAP has provided two Agrarian Service Centers (ASCs) at Parangiyawadiya (North Central Province) and Weerawila (Southern Province) with 06 desktops, 02 Digital Smart Boards, 02 TVs and 02 Portable sound systems worth over Rs 5.7 Mn as a pilot project early this year.

Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Consultant - Agriculture, Food & Rural Development,  the World Bank, Mrs. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries and Mr. Chaminda Ekanayake, Commissioner (Development) DAD were also present in this event. 

Photograph by Nikeshala Kodithuwaku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-11-21

World Bank Managing Director for Operations Ms. Anna Bjerde and Regional Vice-President South Asia Dr. Martin Raiser with the delegation from the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, JICA and USAID visited the Climate Smart Farmer Training School (FTS) in Thirappane yesterday (29th). The FTS was established for framer leaders by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).  The purpose of their visit was to observe how the  FTS  is running to promote Climate Smart Agriculture and assess the progress of the CSIAP. This Farmer Training School will play a pivotal role in training and equipping farmers with hands-on experience in Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices and cutting-edge agricultural technologies. According to the World Bank, the FTS at Thirappane is the first school established in South Asia to promote climate-smart agriculture.

The CSIAP Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna welcomed distinguished guests and presented the progress achieved so far and how the CSIAP moves forward to meet project objectives. Addressing the audience Ms. Bjerde Said the significance of a school for farmers in the region, focusing on climate-smart agriculture. She highlighted the changing weather patterns caused by climate change and how this school is equipping farmers with techniques to enhance productivity and resilience in crop production. She also mentioned three major benefits of this project: the transition to renewable energy, particularly solar power; increased and stable livelihoods, enabling children to access education, including higher education; and diversified and sustainable crop yields, ensuring better nutrition. She expressed pride in the World Bank’s support for this project and emphasised the need for more initiatives like this to address the challenges posed by climate change, both through mitigation and adaptation efforts. She hoped that the project could be sustained by building on the lessons and experiences demonstrating the positive impact on changing the lives and livelihoods of farmer communities.

Farmers who had undergone the three-day residential training programme on  Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture at the Farmer Training School received certificates during this event. Among those who attended the event were Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister of Finance Hon. Shehan Semasinghe, Former Minister Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Asian Development Bank Country Director  Mr. Takafumi Kadono, World Bank Country Director for Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka Mr. Faris Hadad – Zervos, Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Ms. Chiyo Kanda, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Ms. Anjali Kaur, JICA Senior Vice President Ms. Sachiko Imoto, Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary and Ms. Latheesha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, officials of implementing agencies and CSIAP.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-10-30

Memories of the World Bank Managing Director for Operations Ms. Anna Bjerde and Regional Vice-President South Asia Dr. Martin Raiser with the delegation from the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, JICA and USAID’s visit to the Climate Smart Farmer Training School (FTS), in Thirappane yesterday (29th). The FTS was established by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-10-30

 
The progress review meeting for monitoring and discussing the progress of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) that the ministry is overseeing was held this morning at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). This meeting is crucial for ensuring that CSIAP’s under the ministry's purview align with its strategic objectives and are carried out effectively.  During this meeting  Ministry assessed the current status of the CSIAP, discussed achievements, and challenges, and made necessary adjustments. This meeting was chaired by Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture with the participation of Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development), Ms. Dilupa Ambeypitiya, Deputy Director (Development)  and Senior Officials of the MoA.  Eng, R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP attended this meeting with Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP. Please click Images to see more photos of this event.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-10-19

Story and Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-10-19

In order to reduce the human-elephant-conflict in the project areas,  theses electric fences are installed in the area before starting the cultivation and it will be uninstalled  again after harvesting. The Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project emphasizes that the use of community-based seasonal electric fencing has been shown to be very effective in safeguarding paddy cultivations from elephant depredation. The human-elephant conflict is significant in all the CSIAP’s hotspot areas because the cultivation in the hotspot area is often threatened by wild animals, especially elephants. 

This programme is being implemented in 08 districts of Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Monaragala and Hambantota where the CSIAP is being implemented. Under this project, 261 fences for 1109.3 km covering 77854.8 ha paddy fields in  128 Grama Niladhari Division areas of  34 Agrarian Service Divisions. The estimated budget for this is Rs. 475 million and 18905 farming families will benefit.

On behalf of the CSIAP, the Department of Agrarian Department (DAD) will implement an erecting electric fencing programme and for this purpose, DAD has issued a circular to establish an institutional mechanism.  The fences will be entirely powered by solar energy. This project strives to assist farmers in the project area to protect their crops from wild elephants that frequent the area – often causing heavy damage to paddy and other crops. The Versatile Field Fences are easy to erect and the farmers are taught how to make these by the CCR.

The fences stay up until the harvest is taken. Hen farmers remove them afterwards and free up land for wild animals to eat. Again, erect fences for the next crop season. The massive human-elephant conflict has now climbed to a high level, taking many human lives and elephant deaths annually making Sri Lanka the highest annual elephant deaths and second-highest human deaths due to HEC. In 2019, the human-elephant conflict reached record heights in Sri Lanka with the death of 121 people and 405 elephants.

 With this project, the CSIAP hopes to minimize the destruction of crops by a significant percentage and also diversify crops by the use of abandoned farmland due to elephant crop raiding. The project will be implemented under the guidance of Dr. Prithviraj Fernando and his team at the Centre for Conservation and Research.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-10-11

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-09-24

Mr. Faris. H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director of the World Bank inspected the agricultural machinery used for training purposes of farmers who are on three-day residential programmes at the Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane last Friday (22nd). Mr. Hadad-Zervos laid the foundation stone for the FTS on 22^nd December 2021.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-09-24

The Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project (CSIAP) introduces a software application called 'Agro Bizz' to around 70,000 farming families belonging to 47 agricultural service division areas affected by climate change in 11 districts located in 06 provinces, where the CSIAP is being implemented, to sell their agricultural products at a fair price by avoiding middlemen.

The absence of a market to sell agricultural products at a fair price by avoiding middlemen is a major problem faced by the farmers in the CSIAP area, and as a solution to this, the project expects to sell agricultural products through an online application called 'Agro Bizz'. When selling farm produce online, payments will also be credited to farmers' accounts via 'Agro Bizz'. A leading software company  'Celata Tech' has invented this 'Agro Bizz' application which can be downloaded onto Android smartphones.

In a discussion held between World Bank officials, CSIAP officials and 'Celata Tech' company officials, it has been agreed to provide this application for free to about 70,000 project beneficiary farmers. Accordingly, a series of training programmes for selected representatives from the 11 districts under the project area as trainers have been started. The CSIAP aims to popularize this application among the farmers by training and appointing the Agricultural Business and Marketing Relations Officers and agricultural Facilitators working in the Provincial Deputy Project Director Offices of the CSAIP and office bearers of  Producer Associations and Producer Societies as representatives.

Selected representatives from Hambantota, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee Batticaloa and Ampara have been trained and the 'Agro Bizz' application will be introduced to the farmers by those representatives. Farmers are able to enter the image of their products on this application and information such as the quantity of the products, the time when they can be offered for sale, and the prices expected by the farmers can also be mentioned on this application. Farmers' information, farm information, cultivation information and product information are entered into the 'Agro Bizz' application. The 'Celata Tech' company has already registered product buyers, processing agencies, freight forwarders, consultants, Banks and service providers on 'Agro Bizz' to support CSIAP farmers.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-09-20

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-09-15

Mr. S.M. Saman Bandulasena, Chief Secretary, Northern Province along with Ms. S.Suganthini, Provincial Director (Agricultura), Agriculture Instructors of the respective areas,  Mr. Geroge Babu, Deputy Project Director (Northern Province) , Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this Agricultural Field Day, which is a journey of enlightenment and enrichment in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. All officials visited.     

• Thelikarai Village of Poonakary ASC division for Watermelon Field, Thelikarai Tank Rehabilitation, Groundnut Seed Poduction and Harvesting
• Udaiyarkattu village division for MICHY 1 Chilie Cultivation
• Jeyapuram of Mulankavil ASC for Groundnut Cultivation with Sprinkler Irrigation   
• Iyankan Kulam of Thunukai ASC division  for Crop Diversification in Paddy field
• Karuvelankandal of Oddusuddan ASC division for Parachute and mechanical transplanted paddy field 

This Field Day not only educates and inspires but also underscores the pivotal role that agriculture plays in sustaining our CSIAP farming community and preserving the cultivated land for generations to come. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-09-03

Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant of the Worl Bank, conducted the Second Day of the two-day workshop on preparing Cascade Management Plans (CMPs)held at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM), Athurugiriya. Mr. Samanatha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist and  Mr. Nalaka Attanayake, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project made participants aware of their subjects’ contribution to CMPs.  

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-29

The World Bank Officials, Deputy Project Directors and Subject Specialists made their contribution to preparing effective and meaningful Cascade Management Plans on the first day of the two-day workshop held at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM), Athurugiriya.

Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant, Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist and  Eng. S. Manoharan, Consultant of the Worl Bank lectured on selected topics such as preparing Cascade Management Plans (CMPs),  Why should the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) implement 11 pilot CMPs in 11 hotspot areas commencing from October 2023, and Importance of amalgamating the possible activities of the plan of Water Resources Management for sustainable cascade management. The objectives of the two-day workshop were pointed out by Mr. D. V. Bandulasena, Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist (ID&CBS) of the Project Management Unit (PMU).

 Representing six provincial Deputy Directors’ Office of the CSIAP Mr. Upali Rathnayake, ID&CBS, Deputy Project Director’s Office of the North Central Province, Mr. D. M .K. H. Dissanayake, ID&CBS, Deputy Project Director’s Office of the North Western Province, Mr. D. M. L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director of the  Uva Province, Mr. Arulappu George Chandra Babu, Deputy Project Director of the  Northern Province, Dr. R. M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director of the  Eastern Province and Mr. R.P. M. Dissananayeke, ID&CBS and Acting Deputy Project Director of the  Southern Province, commented on the progress of establishing the Cascade Management Committees (CMCs), developing CMPs and planning for facilitating the CMC to implement the CMP.

Mr. N. A. I. U. K. Nissanka, Water Management Specialist, Dr. Janaka Jayawardane -Environmental & Social Safeguard Specialist, Mr. Frank Jayasinghe, Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist and Mr. Christy Perera, Agri-Business & Market Development Linkage Specialist delivered lectures on how do their subjects incorporate into cascade management plans. Subject Specialists, Engineers and Officers of the CSIAP attended this workshop.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-28

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-28

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-28

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-18

In order to execute CMPs, the CSIAP establishes 53 Cascade Management Committees (CMC) in the Districts of Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Monaragala, and Hambantota in the six provinces where the CSIAP is being implemented. The CMC consists of beneficiaries of the cascade and officers representing different agencies to jointly manage the natural resources of forest, soil, water and land.

A special meeting chaired by Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, to discuss the establishment of CMCs and Development and Implementation of CMPs was held yesterday (10the) with the participation of Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP(joined remotely), Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist, Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Consultant, Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant, World Bank, Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development), Ms. Renuka Rathnayake, Director (Development), Eng, R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP. The first CMP written based on Babawa Cascade in Hambantota was handed over to the Secretary of Agriculture. Please click Images to see more photos of the event.

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-11

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-08-11

 Starting the Training Programme, the CSIAP’s Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna explained the workshop's objectives and  Mr. T. T. Dhayalan, System Administrator, Soft Vision Technologies (PVT) Ltd conducted the training.

Photographs by Nikeshala kodithuwakku

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-07-22

Photograph by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-07-19

A Progress Review Meeting to discuss the  current progress and future activities of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project was held at the Minister of Agriculture yesterday (12th). Senior Officials of the ministry and the CSIAP attended this meeting which was chaired by Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. The CSIAP team was led by Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director. Please click Images to more photos of the meeting

Photographs by Nikeshala Kodithuwakku, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-07-13

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-07-11

Authors:
Eng. R.M.B Rajakaruna – Project Director, CSIAP
Mr. Frank Jeyasinghe – Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist (PMU), CSIAP
Ms. Sharmila Shanmuganathan – Gender Development Officer (PMU), CSIAP 

 Labor shortages across Asia are making manual transplanting untenable in paddy farming. Manual transplanting rarely provides uniform row spacing or optimal rice plant populations (Behera et al., 2009). Shortages of labor increase the risk of delayed transplanting which causes paddy yield loss.

Mechanical transplanting of paddy is the process of transplanting seedlings raised in a dappok nursery using a self-propelled transplanter. Using mechanized rice transplanting reduces the cost of crop establishment, saves labor, ensures timely transplanting, and attains optimum plant density that contributes to high productivity (Manjunatha et al., 2009).

However, farmers are familiar with direct seedling and parachute seeding methods in paddy land. The above-mentioned factors have stimulated interest in mechanical transplanting. Therefore, CSIAP is trying to assess the effectiveness of the three types of plenty seedlings in the climatically vulnerable hotspot areas in Sri Lanka. Those methods are (a) direct seedling, (b) parachute seedling, and (c) using the transplanter for paddy seedlings. 

 5.    Research Methodology and Study Area
CSIAP has taken steps to provide power-operated mechanized transplanters (with 06 rows planting base) to the 44 ASC divisions, covering whole project implementation areas except Southern Province. Each ASC has dispatched 04 numbers of transplanters with power weeders and nursery trays. As a strategy to popularize these transplanters among the beneficiaries, the project carried out a paddy transplanting demonstration program during the Maha season 2022/23 with selected beneficiaries in the project area by using mechanized transplanters.  

 The main scope of this program is to introduce farm mechanization as a strategy of CSA practice and technology and convince its benefits for smallholder farmers Meantime, CSIAP implemented the demonstration program in 44 ASCs covering various Agro-climatic regions in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas in 11 districts and 06 provinces.

 In addition, demonstration programs were carried out on 66 acres of paddy lands in 141 nos demonstrations with the participation of 132 smallholder farmers who live in the project area. Also, at the end of the cultivation program project carry out crop cutting survey in every demonstration plot and assess the effectiveness and impacts of using paddy transplanters compared with the yield of control plots, which are planted by following direct seeding and parachute planting methods. 

 Activities involved during the demonstration intervention
1.     Establishment of 03 paddy planting plots (1/2 ac at each) in each ASC (01-transplanting plot, 01 parachute cultivation plot, and 01 direct seeding plot)        
2.     Carry out capacity-building programs for the beneficiaries with the intervention of DoA
3.     Provision of seed paddy for all plots on free of charge basis
4.     Provision of chemical fertilizer for all plots on free of charge basis
5.     Provide 8225 numbers of parachute trays for relevant beneficiaries on free of charge basis (175 Nos trays per farmer)
6.     Carried out crops cutting survey to cover all plots (132 numbers demonstration plots)

5.1.         Province-wise transplanting demonstration plots extent during the Maha Season Cultivation in 2022/23

   5.2.        Materials used for the transplanting demonstration plots during the Maha Season Cultivation in 2022/23

6.    The finding of the Study
  6.1.        Key findings of the study
The paddy transplanter demonstration program was carried out during the Maha season cultivation program in 2022/23 in 44 ASC divisions in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas of 11 districts and 06 provinces in Sri Lanka.

·       The yield increase of the mechanized transplanting method is ranging from 19 - 46% (Average increase – 29.08%) when compared to the direct seeding method.

·       The seed paddy requirement for Mechanized transplanting is 63% less compared to the direct seeding method. It leads to saving Rs. 4680/- per acre.

·       When the use of Mechanized weeders for weed control, helps to curtail weed control costs by 60% and it leads to enhancing the growth of paddy plants through vigorous tillering as a matter of improving soil physical properties.

         6.1.1.   The results are presented for the three and half month (3 ½) paddy varieties after the crop cutting survey below the attached table:

    6.1.2.   The results are presented for the four and half month (4 ½) paddy varieties after the crop cutting survey below the attached table:

 6.2.       Benefits of the power-operated mechanized transplanters

•  The positive aspects of transplanting paddy seedlings using mechanized transplanters are numerous.

·       Mechanized transplanting allows for faster and more efficient planting of paddy seedlings, covering larger areas in less time compared to manual labor. This leads to decrease plant establishment costs.

·       Manual transplanting of paddy seedlings is labor-intensive and can be physically demanding. By using mechanized transplanters, farmers can reduce their dependency on manual labor, save on labor costs, and alleviate labor shortages during peak transplanting seasons.

·       Mechanized transplanters offer precise control over planting depth, spacing, and seedling placement. This results in better crop establishment, uniform growth, and optimal plant density, leading to higher yields as a result of increased tillering of plants.

·       Mechanized transplanting allows farmers to transplant seedlings within a shorter timeframe, as they are not constrained by the availability of manual labor. This can help them align their planting schedules with optimal weather and field conditions with maximum utilization of rainwater.

·       Mechanized transplanting ensures consistent spacing between seedlings, promoting uniform growth and minimizing competition for resources such as water, nutrients, and sunlight. This facilitates better nutrient uptake, reduces weed growth, and improves overall crop health.

·       Embracing mechanized transplanting represents a shift towards adopting climate-smart agriculture practices and technologies in Sri Lanka. It encourages the use of advanced technology, improves efficiency, and supports sustainable agricultural development, despite the labor shortage as one major prevailing issue in agriculture.

 7.    Weaknesses of the Transplanters
While there are several positive aspects of transplanting paddy seedlings using mechanized transplanters, it's important to consider the potential challenges or negative aspects associated with this approach.

·       Mechanized transplanters can be expensive to purchase or lease, especially for small-scale farmers who may have limited financial resources. The initial investment cost could pose a barrier to adoption for some farmers.

·       Access to mechanized transplanters may be limited in certain areas or among smallholder farmers. Lack of availability or limited access to these machines could prevent widespread adoption, particularly in remote or economically disadvantaged areas.

·       Operating a mechanized transplanter requires technical expertise and training. Farmers may need to invest time and resources in training operators or hiring skilled individuals, which could be challenging for those with limited access to training programs or qualified personnel.

·       As mechanized transplanting reduces the need for manual labor, there is a possibility of job displacement for agricultural workers who were previously involved in manual transplanting. This could have social and economic implications, particularly in regions where agriculture is a significant source of employment.

 8.    Remedies to overcome the issues

·       To overcome the above said weaknesses, CSIAP provided the transplanter to the 47 ASC divisions in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas in Sri Lanka

·       Smallholder farmers can get the services of the paddy transplanter for a reasonable rate from their ASC divisions.

·       CSIAP is conducting the CSA practices and technology training programs in the Eco-friendly Climate Smart Farmer Training School, Thirapane. Therefore, farmers can get technical knowledge.

·       Row transplanting can be done by using this mechanized transplanter which helps to use the power weeded for weed control and curtail the weedicide cost by 60%.

·       When compared to direct seeding, seed paddy requirements for the seed paddy transplanter is very low. It needs 15kg per acre which is 37% compared to the direct seedling seeds requirement (40kg per acre).

 9.    Conclusion

·       Mechanizing the transplanting of paddy can decrease labor requirements and costs for crop establishment. Most importantly it helps to increase the yield and help to control the weeds in the paddy land.

·       The findings of the study are mechanized transplanting offers several advantages over traditional manual methods which are increased yield productivity and efficiency, labor savings, and cost reduction, and improved planting accuracy, uniform crop growth, adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices and technologies.

·       Transplanting of paddy seedlings according to the rows is the most important activity to control weeds without spending on agrochemicals, which leads to reduced production cost, and decrease chemical contamination.

·       Since the transplanter needs a low quantity of paddy seeds per acre. It leads to minimizing the dependency on seeds paddy for paddy cultivation.

·       As per the crop cutting results, it is explicit that mechanized transplanting gives good results for the 31/2 – 4 month paddy varieties.

·       Hence, this transplanter is very useful the higher age paddy cultivation farmer in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas. Also, this mechanized transplanter can be recommended to popularize among the smallholder farming community.  

Acknowledgement:
We would like to acknowledge and give our special thanks to staff in Provincial Deputy Project Director’s Offices, CSIAP for their continuous support when undertaking this research. This paper and the research behind it would not have been possible without the exceptional support of them.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-07-07

A two-day workshop on formulating a Cascade Management Plan began yesterday (20th) at the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM). The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) organized this workshop to formulate 53 Cascade Management Plans which refers to a strategic planning and implementation approach in which goals and objectives are systematically communicated and translated from higher levels of the organization to lower levels. It involves breaking down high-level strategic goals into specific, actionable objectives that are assigned to different stakeholders working with the CSIAP.

The Cascade Management Plan typically follows a top-down approach, where the Cascade Management Committee (CMC) sets the overall strategic direction and goals. These goals are then cascaded down to lower levels, such as divisions, departments, societies, and individuals, ensuring alignment and coherence throughout the Cascade Management Committee. By implementing a Cascade Management Plan, the CSIAP can ensure that strategic goals are effectively communicated, understood, and translated into actionable objectives by the stakeholders. This approach promotes alignment, accountability, and a coordinated effort towards achieving the overall CMC's strategy.

Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna welcomed all participants and explained the objectives of the workshop. Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist, the World Bank delivered a lecture on the Importance of Cascade management for CSIAP and Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Consultant, the World Bank, delivered a lecture on Integrated watershed management and climate smart agriculture too. As a resource person, Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne, Consultant, World Bank conducted group activities among participants while delivering lectures on Levelling of participants’ expectations, the Methodology of the workshop and expected results, and the template of the Cascade Management Plan. Specialists and Officers of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Provincial Offices of the CSIAP attended this workshop.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-20

This workshop, which was held in two sessions per week, was initiated under the instructions of  Eng R.M.B. Rajakauruna, Project Director, CSIAP and guidance of the Senior Engineering Consultant Eng H.G.M.Kulasinghe.  Project Engineering Consultants Eng R.M.H.N Bandara and Eng P.H.S. Rangika made their contribution to the workshop as resource persons along with Eng. B.D.M.S.B Dissanayake. Senior Technical Officer Mr. D.B.U.Withana organized and coordinated the workshop under the guidance and directions of the Water Resource Development Specialist Eng R.M. Jinadasa and Deputy Project Director of the CSIAP in  Uva Province Mr. D.M.L. Bandaranayaka. Certificates of Participation were awarded to participants.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-16

World Bank Officials met Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture to assess the progress of the CSIAP made during the mission, evaluate the achieved outcomes, and discuss any ongoing and future tasks recently. Before this meeting, World Bank Officials were on an observation tour in North Central and Eastern Province to review the CSIAP's progress. Afterwards, they visited the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the CSIAP to review the progress. 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 attended this meeting. Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development), Ms. Renuka Rathnayaka, Director (Development) and Ms. Pramushka Withanage, Director (IT) of the Ministry of Agriculture. Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna and senior staff of the CSIAP were present. Please click Images to see more photos of the meeting.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-16

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-16

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.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-15

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-15

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. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-15

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. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-15

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

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-06-14

A transect walk is a serious of observations performed while walking across a geographical area (village, tank catchment, cascade, etc.) by observing, asking, listening, looking and producing a transect diagram. In the case of cascade, it is to develop a cascade profile. Accordingly, a cascade profile is a cross section of the cascade, showing the connections between the cascade and the farmer community. It is a quick, initial assessment tool that may reveal a need for more detailed or quantitative assessment. This exercise helps to triangulate data collected through other methods. At the same time, the walk must be complemented by other methods like problem-prioritising and translation into action plans. Therefore, the cooperation of the major stakeholders must be secured in order to implement results from the transect walk and subsequent mapping.

Purpose: Learn the cascade and identify issues that affect negatively to it, in a participative manner with all relevant stakeholders in order to develop a profile for the cascade, which enables to develop a pragmatic cascade management plan to ensure the sustainability of the cascade and the water productivity of the tank system in the area.

Deputy Project Director’s Office  (Southern Province) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project organized three transect walks recently with the participation of over 70 members of the Cascade Management Committees people, who were divided into 3 groups,  went on a transect walk covering the entire the (Ellanga) Cascade along 3 transect walk to the last lake called Babawa Lake of the Cascade.

The first group walked from the border of Ellanga above Tabarawa Lake through Tambarawa Lake, Muliththan Lake, Karabidangu Lake, Maila Gus Lake, Karuvala Bend, Rotawala Lake and Deiyange Lake, Bandu Lake, Halemba Lake to Babawa Lake around 10 km, the second group walked from Panagammana Tank, via Bandu Lake, Helamba Lake to Babawa Lake around 11 km, and the third group walked from Millatta Lake via Julpatana Lake,  Aliwala, Muwan Lake,  Mailattha to Babawa Lake around 8km.

The cascade profile: It is developed after the transect. It reveals the interrelationship between various ecosystems in the cascade especially from the cascade watershed to the village tank system. Further, it helps stakeholders to gain an understanding of the cascade area, extent of cascade, severity of problems, resources use, type of damages done to the cascade, types of animals live, number of small tanks located within the cascade, endangered species, areas that have been deforested and so forth.

The profile also provides a venue for stakeholder agencies and the farmer community to share information and understand their responsible areas and duties in a different perspective. Moreover, it helps to open eyes of the local politicians, policy makers, stakeholder agencies and farmers to see the true picture of the cascade and thereby to take appropriate decisions to safeguard the cascade. Most importantly, the profile contributes largely to preparing a pragmatic Cascade Management Plan in a collective manner.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-05-24

• 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 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-05-24

The Provincial Progress Review Meeting of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) chaired by Ms. Lathisha Liyanage, Additional Secretary (Development) is being held presently (04^th) at the Ministry of Agriculture.  Provincial Deputy Project Directors of the CSIAP attended the meeting via video conferencing. Ms. Renuka Rathnayaka, Director (Development) Project Director Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna and senior staff of the CSIAP were physically present. 

Please click Images to see more photos of the meeting

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-05-04

Preserving Tank Cascade Systems to build Agroecological Landscape Resilience in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka  (Special article on
International Mother Earth Day)

Sri Lanka’s tank cascade systems promote an important traditional water management strategy that has been used for centuries to build agricultural resilience in the dry zone. These are a series of small reservoirs or tanks that are interconnected through canals, designed to capture and store rainwater during the wet season and provide irrigation water during the dry season and a part of Sri Lanka’s hydraulic civilization. These systems interconnect small human-made reservoirs which capture seasonal rainwater for agriculture, household, and environmental purposes and are considered the lifeblood of communities in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. Tank cascade systems have helped to address drought and flood mitigation historically. They help to build agricultural resilience in the dry zone, those are:

Sustainable water supply: tank cascade systems provide a sustainable water supply for irrigation, particularly during the dry season when rainfall is limited. This can help to reduce crop losses due to water stress and increase agricultural productivity.

Drought mitigation: tank cascade systems can also help to mitigate the impact of droughts by storing water during the wet season and releasing it during the dry season. This can help to ensure that crops have access to water during periods of prolonged drought.

Increased crop diversity: tank cascade systems can support increased crop diversity by providing water for a range of crops, including paddy, vegetables, fruits, and spices. This can help to reduce the risk of crop failure due to pests or diseases and provide a more varied and nutritious diet for local communities.

Improved soil fertility: tank cascade systems can also improve soil fertility through the deposition of sediment and nutrients in the tanks and canals. The use of organic fertilizers and other CSA practices can further enhance soil fertility, leading to increased crop yields.

Cultural heritage preservation: tank cascade systems are an important part of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and have been maintained and improved over centuries by local communities. The preservation and promotion of these systems can help to maintain cultural traditions and support sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.

Tank cascade systems are remarkable and one of the most efficient water management systems in the world. In ancient times, these systems functioned sustainably, in harmony with the environment, and were maintained by the communities that benefitted from them.

The CSIAP initially planned to develop 122 cascades in 11 districts in Sri Lanka. For that, the CSIAP has already completed the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) at the tank level, hydrological assessments including the water balance study, engineering survey, and prepared Hotspot Area Agriculture Development Plans (HSAADPs) based on the 47 agrarian service centre divisions covering 256 GN divisions in 11 districts and 06 provinces. With the reduction of project funds during the country’s economic crisis, CSIAP is able to develop nearly 60 cascades only with available funds. The following table explains the ongoing tank rehabilitation and cascade development in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas in Sri Lanka.

The Cascade development is not a simple intervention. As I already mentioned, the intervention is interrelated with multiple sectors, multi-disciplinary subjects, and multi-stakeholders. Therefore, CSIAP is be careful when taking the steps to develop the cascades in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas. According to the community’s point of view, the rehabilitation of tanks and the cascade developments are related to the livelihood of the people, the balance of ecosystems including biodiversity, and the prevention of disasters etc. People from the community say that “when you touch the tank or cascade for the rehabilitation intervention, you must think that you are touching the heart of the community in the village. Tanks and cascade are not a physical infrastructure, those are feeling of the community”.

As I already mentioned, CSIAP started the tank rehabilitation and the cascade development interventions by doing multiple studies, surveys, and screening to ensure that no harm to the ecosystem and the community in the climatically vulnerable hotspot area. To avoid and prevent the impacts and the risks, CSIAP conducted the PRA, hydrological assessments, engineering survey, HSAADP, PIR, and environmental and social screening for the cascades and the tanks in the climatically vulnerable hotspot areas. The cascade development is an integrated intervention. Therefore, CSIAP ensured that tank rehabilitation and cascade development works are done without harm to the ecosystem and the community.

CSIAP is rehabilitating and developing the different types of tanks in a cascade with different functions (forest tanks, tanks for water purification/ silt trapping, tanks for seasonal cultivation with no permanent settlements, and village tanks). A village tank consists of many components, each serving a specific purpose to maintain the integrity and hydrological connectivity of the system. With the absence of this integrity, the small tank cascade systems fail to deliver the ecosystem services and socio-cultural benefits such as the provision of water for irrigation and other domestic uses, water purification, groundwater recharge, flood management, erosion control, provision of food, medicines, raw materials, recreational benefits, cultural and spiritual bonding, habitats for wildlife, and carbon sequestration.

The components of a village tank are a stream (seasonal stream), a filter (a strip of grass and reeds on the periphery of the water body that acts as a filter to trap silt), a water hole (an upstream sediment trap), a windbreak of trees (an area planted with large trees that act as a windbreak to minimize evaporation from the surface of the tank), soil ridge (an upstream bund to manage soil erosion and sedimentation), and interceptor (the stretch between the tank bund and paddy fields). This acts as a downstream wind barrier, reduces tank seepage, and prevents sodium, magnesium, and iron from entering the paddy land, paddy field, and drainage.

We can say that pocket of biodiversity can be identified in the tank cascade system. Or we can say that tank cascade systems are rich in biodiversity. Tank ecosystems create a mild microclimate that supports a variety of flora and fauna that otherwise would not have inhabited the climatically vulnerable hotspot areas. The long-term sustainability of tank cascades depends on the holistic understanding of socio-ecological aspects and requires a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach. In this way, CSIAP is establishing the Cascade Management Committees (CMCs) with the relevant stakeholders in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas in Sri Lanka. 

It is most important to point out that, the CSIAP always ensures the long-term knowledge management and transparency of investments in tank management to ensure community ownership. Also, the project is promoting community-centred tank rehabilitation. We identified that more cost-effective compared to third-party contracting.

The CSIAP has conducted sufficient cascade-wise technical studies required before rehabilitation work. Cascades-based approaches are helping sustainable agroecological landscapes, cascade-based climate adaptation, and cascade-based disaster risk reduction. In this project, we implemented a cascade-based approach for tank rehabilitation and cascade development, while blending the scientific results with traditional indigenous knowledge and practices. We successfully brought back the community lead maintenance and management of tanks, without losing the vital contribution made by the stakeholder agencies. The achievements of the project will be highly significant. Key lessons learned from the CSIAP can be used about cascades in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas on how to empower communities with the means and knowledge to embrace their heritage and environment and become self-sufficient.

Article Written By: Sharmila Thirhiharan, Gender Development Officer,
Project Management Unit, Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project
Photographs by Deputy Project Director's Office (Southern)

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-04-26

‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් දෙමුහුන් ප්‍රභේදයකි. සාමාන්‍යයෙන්, එය නිවර්තන කලාපවල වර්ධනය වේ. ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ ගස්ලබු ගෙවත්තේ පවා වගා කළ හැකිවන අතර හොඳ ලාභයක්  සහිතව අඛණ්ඩ අස්වැන්නක් ලබාදෙන හොඳ රසවත් පලතුරකි. ඒ අනුව, දේශගුණ සුහුරු කෘෂිකාර්මික ක්‍රම අනුගමනය කරමින් වායව අතු බැඳීමේ ප්‍රචාරණයෙන් මෙම ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ ගස්ලබු වගාව සහ නිෂ්පාදනය නැගෙනහිර පළාතේ අම්පාර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ කෝමාරි ගොවිජන සේවා මධ්‍යස්ථානයේ කෝමාරි – 01 ග්‍රාම නිලධාරී වසමේ ගොවියකු වන සිවකරන් සහ ඔහුගේ බිරිඳ සුමිත්‍රාදේවි විසින් සාර්ථකව සිදු කරන ලදී.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් දෙමුහුන් බීජවල මිල සාපේක්ෂව අධිකය. එමෙන්ම ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් බීජ වෙනත් රටවලින් ආනයනය කරන අතර එය සෑම ගොවියකුටම ගෙවතු වගාවට අවශ්‍ය කුඩා ප්‍රමාණවලින් ලබාගත නොහැක. මෙම ගොවි මහතා විසින් වායව අතු බැඳීමේ තාක්ෂණය යොදා ගනිමින් සාර්ථකව ගස්ලබු පැල ප්‍රචාරණය සිදු කරයි. අම්පාර ප්‍රදේශයේ මෙම ගොවි මහතා ඉතා අඩු වියදමකින් ශාකමය ප්‍රචාරණයෙන් එක් 'රෙඩ් ලේඩි' පැපොල් ගසකින් පැළ රැසක් නිෂ්පාදනය කළ හැකි බව සහ වර්ධක ප්‍රචාරණය, වගාව සහ 'රෙඩ් ලේඩි' පැල නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීමේ තාක්ෂණය, නැඟෙනහිර පළාතේ අප ව්‍යාපෘති ක්‍රියාකාරකම් වල ප්‍රගතිය නැරඹීමට ගිය අවස්ථාවේදී ලෝක බැංකුවේ සහ දේශගුණ සුහුරු වාරි කෘෂිකර්ම ව්‍යාපෘතියේ නිලධාරීන්ට සහ සෙසු ගොවීන්ට පැහැදිලි කළේය.

 එක් ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් පැළයක මිල රුපියල් 250 ක් පමණ වනු ඇත. එසේම එම බීජය භාවිතයෙන් ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් පැළයක් සකස් කර ගැනීමට (අඩි 1ක් උසට වැඩීමට) අවම වශයෙන් මාසයක් ගත වේ. නමුත් ඉතා සරල තාක්‍ෂණයෙන් කෙනෙකුට වායව අතු බැඳීමේ තාක්ෂණය භාවිතා කර දින පහළොවක් පමණ ඇතුළත තම ගෙවත්තේ විශිෂ්ට, සෞඛ්‍ය සම්පන්න, ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් පැළ නිෂ්පාදනය කළ හැකිය.

 දින 15 කට පසු, මුල් වර්ධනය වී ඇති ශාඛාව (බීජ පැළය) කපා වෙන් කර පොලිතින් බඳුනක (එය විකිණීමට තිබේ නම්) හෝ පොළවේ නම් සෙවණ යට‌ෙත් දින 10 ක් පමණ තැබිය යුතුය. ප්‍රමාණවත් තරම් මුල් ඇති වූ පසු, පොලිතීන් බඳුන ඉවත් කළ හැකිය. තවද පතුලේ සිහින් කැපුම් සිදු කළ විට මුල් වර්ධනය උත්තේජනය වන අතර මුල් පද්ධත්ය හොඳින් වර්ධනය වේ. මේ නිසා තද සුළඟක් හමන විට ගස කැඩී නොයයි. වායව අතු බැඳීමේදී පැළයේ විශේෂත්වය වන්නේ එය මාස තුනක කාලයක් තුළ පොළවේ සිට සහෝ අඩි දෙකක් පමණ දුරින් ඵල දැරීමට පටන් ගැනීමයි. බීජ මඟින් නිපදවන ශාකයක ගෙඩි හට ගැනීම සිදුවන්නේ වසරකට පසුව වන අතර එවිට ගසේ උස අඩි 5 ක් පමණ වේ. අලුත් ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් ගසක සෑම ගෙඩියක්ම කිලෝ 1 – 2 1/2 පමණ බරින් යුක්ත වේ. ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් ගස් 15ක් තිබීමෙන් මසකට 20,000 කට ආසන්න මුදලක් උපයා ගත හැකි බව ගොවියා සිනාමුසු මුහුණින් පැවසීය.

 මෙහි ඇති වැදගත්ම දෙය නම් නව පැපොල් පැළය, පලතුරු රසය ආදියෙහි කිසිදු වෙනසක් නොමැතිව මව් ගසට සමාන ලක්ෂණ වලින් යුක්ත වීමයි. එසේම අඛණ්ඩ ආදායමක් ලබා ගැනීමට කෙටි කාලයක් තුළ වඩා හොඳ ප්‍රතිඵල ලබා ගත හැකිය. මෙම ‘රෙඩ් ලේඩි’ පැපොල් ගෙඩිය අනෙකුත් පැපොල් පලතුරු මෙන් නොව මිහිරි රසයකින් යුක්ත වන අතර ඕනෑම අයෙකුට පැමිණ මිලදී ගත හැකි වෙළෙඳ පොළ අවස්ථාවක් ද ඇත.

රචනය - ෂර්මිලා තිර්හිහරන්, ස්ත්‍රී පුරුෂ සමාජභාවය සංවර්ධන නිලධාරී, ව්‍යාපෘති කළමනාකරණ ඒකකය, දේශගුණ සුහුරු වාරි කෘෂිකර්ම ව්‍යාපෘතිය
ඡායාරූප සහ තොරතුරු - ටී.සේකරන් - සමාජ ආරක්ෂණ නිලධාරී, සහ පී.සායි පුරුෂෝතමන් , කෘෂිකර්ම පහසුකාරක (කෝමාරි), නැගෙනහිර පළාත,  දේශගුණ සුහුරු වාරි කෘෂිකර්ම ව්‍යාපෘතිය 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-04-19

The ‘Red Lady’ papaya is a hybrid. Normally, it grows in tropical regions. The ‘Red Lady’ papaya can be cultivated even in the home garden and can get yield consistently with good tasty fruit along with better returns. Accordingly, the cultivation and production of this ‘Red Lady’ papaya through Vegetative propagation by adopting climate-smart agriculture practices were carried out successfully by a farmer (Sivakaran and his wife Sumithradevi) in the Komari – 01 Grama Niladhari Division of Komari Agrarian Service Centre Division in Ampara District, Eastern Province.

In Sri Lanka, the ‘Red Lady’ papaya hybrid seed is comparatively expensive. Also, the ‘Red Lady’ papaya seeds are imported from other countries and it is not available in small quantities required for Homestead gardening by every farmer. The farmer, who is successfully propagating vegetatively through adopting the “air layering” Technique.  Many seedlings can be produced from one ‘Red Lady’ papaya tree through Vegetative propagation at a very little cost within a short time, by a farmer in Ampara districts and also explained the technique of vegetative propagation,  cultivation and production of the ‘Red Lady’ papaya seedling and fruits to the officials of the World Bank and Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project and fellow farmers when they visited the subproject area in the Eastern Province.

The cost of one ‘Red Lady’ papaya seedling, will be around Rs 750 – 900. Also, it takes at least a month to produce a ‘Red Lady’ papaya seedling (to grow to 1 feet height) using that seed. But with the very simple technic of vegetative production, one can produce excellent, healthy, ‘Red Lady’ papaya seedlings in one’s home garden within about fifteen days by using the air-layering method. 

‘Red Landy’ papaya air-layering method
In the home garden, the top part (shoot) of the ‘Red Lady’ papaya tree should be cut off. Then, cover the cut ‘Red Lady’ papaya shoot with a plastic bottle. The purpose of covering it is to prevent rainwater or other water from entering the trunk of the cut ‘Red Lady’ papaya tree and to prevent fungal invasion

After 15 days, the branch (seedling) that has developed roots should be cut and separated and placed in a vase with the polythene (if it is for sale) or in the ground for about 10 days under a shadow. After enough roots have formed, the polythene can be removed. And when thin incisions are made from the base from the bottom, the cells grow and the base enlarges. Due to this, the tree does not break when the wind blows strongly. The speciality of the air-layering seedling is that it starts bearing fruit 30 centimetres or one foot from the ground within a period of three months unlike the seeds will produce fruits only after a year. Each fruit from a new ‘Red Lady’ papaya tree weighs about two to two and a half kilos.

The farmer said with a smile that by having 15 ‘Red Lady’ papaya trees, he can earn nearly Rs. 40,000 per month. The most important thing here is that the new papaya seedling will have the same characteristics as the mother tree without any change in fruit taste, etc. Also, they can get better results in a short time to earn continuous income. This ‘Red Lady’ papaya fruit is full of sweet taste unlike other papaya fruits and has a market opportunity that anyone can come and buy.

Benefits of the ‘Red Lady’ papaya air layering through registration

•  A tree created by air layering will bear fruit continuously from a height of one and a half feet.
• The ‘Red Lady’ will never change the sweet taste of papaya fruit.
  
• Loss during the harvest of fruit can be completely avoided.
• Directly the pest can be physically removed.
• Fruit can be obtained at a short height of the tree.
• It is also cost-effective and can generate recurring income.
• A single tree can produce several ‘Red Lady’ papaya seedlings at once.

Written: Sharmila Thirhiharan, Gender Development Officer of the Project Management Unit, CSIAP.
Photos and information: T. Sekaran, Social Safeguard Officer, and
P. Sai Purushothaman, Agriculture Facilitator, Komari, EP, CSIAP. 

Please click  Video to watch

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-04-09

''காலநிலையால் உச்ச பாதிப்படைந்த பிரதேசத்தில் காலநிலைக்கு சீரமைவான விவசாய நடைமுறைகள் மற்றும் புதிய தொழில்நுட்ப உத்திகளைக் கையாண்டு வெற்றிகரமான ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசிச் செய்கை''.

‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி என்பது ஒரு கலப்பின பயிராகும். இது வெப்ப மண்டலப் பிரதேசங்களில் வளரக் கூடியது. குறிப்பாக வீட்டுத் தோட்டங்கள் முதலான இடங்களில் பயிரிடுவதன் மூலம் தொடர்ச்சியாகச் சிறந்த வருமானத்தைப் பெற்றுக்கொள்ளக் கூடியதாக இருக்கும். அந்த வகையில், இந்த ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரச் செய்கை உற்பத்தியை காலநிலைக்கு சீரமைவான விவசாய நடைமுறைகள் மற்றும் புதிய தொழில்நுட்ப உத்திகளைப் பின்பற்றிக் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தில் அம்பறை மாவட்டத்தில், கோமாரி கமநல சேவை நிலையப் பிரிவில் அமைந்துள்ள ‘கோமாரி - 01 என்ற கிராம சேவையாளர் பிரிவில் உள்ள விவசாயி (சிவாகரன் மற்றும் அவரது மனைவி சுமித்திராதேவி) மிகவும் வெற்றிகரமாக செய்கை செய்து வருகின்றமை இங்கு குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

இலங்கையில் ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி விதை ஒப்பீட்டளவில் விலை கூடியதொரு விதையாகக் காணப்படுகின்றது. அத்துடன் ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி விதைகளை வேறு நாடுகளில் இருந்தும் இறக்குமதி செய்யப்படுகின்றது. மேலும் ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரக் கன்றுகளும் ஒப்பீட்டளவில் விலையுயர்ந்த மரக் கன்றுகளாகவே சந்தைகளில் கிடைப்பதை அவதானிக்கக் கூடியதாக இருப்பதோடு, மற்றும் அவை அரிதாகக் கிடைப்பதையும் பார்க்க முடிகின்றது.  

அந்த வகையில்இ ஒரு ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரத்தில் இருந்து இரசாயனம் அற்ற மற்றும் செலவில்லாமல் அல்லது மிகக் குறைந்த செலவில், மிகக் குறுகிய காலப் பகுதிக்குள் ஒரு இடத்திலேயே, ஒரு மரத்தில் இருந்து பல மரக் கன்றுகளை உருவாக்க முடியும் என்பதை ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசியை வெற்றிகரமாக செய்கை செய்துவரும் விவசாயி, உலக வங்கி மற்றும் காலநிலைக்கு சீரமைவான நீர்ப்பாசன விவசாயத் திட்ட அலுவலர்கள் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்திற்குக் திட்டக் கள விஜயத்தை மேற்கொண்ட போது அத் தொழில்நுட்ப உத்தியையும் தனது வெற்றிக் கதையையும் உத்தியோகத்தர்கள் மற்றும் சக விவசாயிகளிற்கு தெளிவாக விளங்கப்படுத்தி இருந்தார்.

ஒரு Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரக் கன்றைக் கொள்வனவு செய்வதாக இருந்தால் கிட்டத்தட்ட ருபா 750 - 900 ஐச் செலவிட வேண்டும். அத்துடன் நாங்கள் அந்த விதையைப் பயன்படுத்தி  ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரத்தை உருவாக்குவதற்கு (1 அடிக்கு வளர) குறைந்த பட்சம் கிட்டத்திட்ட ஒரு மாத காலம் வரை எடுக்கும்.

 ஆனால் இலகுவாக, தொழில்நுட்ப உத்தியைப் பயன்படுத்தி பதி வைத்தல் முறையினூடாக கிட்டத்தட்ட பதினைந்து நாட்களிற்குள் சிறந்த, ஆரோக்கியமான, இரசாயனமற்ற ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரக்கன்றுகளை தத்தமது தோட்டத்திலேயே உருவாக்கிக் கொள்ள முடியும். 

‘Red Lady’ பப்பாசி பதி வைத்தல் முறை

தோட்டத்திலோ அல்லது வீட்டுத் தோட்டத்திலோ ஏற்கனவே வளர்ந்துள்ள ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரத்தின் அங்குரத்தின் உச்சிப் பகுதியை அதாவது மேற்பகுதியை வெட்ட வேண்டும். பின்னர் வெட்டப்பட்ட ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரத் தண்டை ஒரு பிளாஸ்ரிக் போத்தலால் அல்லது முடியால் மூடி விட வேண்டும். இதனை மூடுவதன் நோக்கம் என்னவென்றால், வெட்டப்பட்ட பப்பாசி மரத்தின் தண்டுக்குள் மழை நீரோ அல்லது ஏனைய நீரோ உட்செல்லாமல் பாதுகாத்துக் கொள்வதற்கே ஆகும். 

இவ்வாறு மரத்தின் அங்குரத்தின் உச்சிப் பகுதியை அதாவது மேற்பகுதியை வெட்டி அதனைப் போத்தலால் மூடிய பின்னர் வெட்டப்பட்ட

அந்த பப்பாசி மரத்தின் பக்கவாட்டில் இருந்து கிழைகள் வர ஆரம்பிக்கும். அதாவது கணு இடைகளில் இருந்து வெவ்வேறு பல கிழைகள் உருவாகும். உருவாகிய அந்தப் புதிய கிழைகள் ஓரளவு வெட்டக் கூடிய அளவிற்கு வந்ததன் பின்னர், அவ்வாறு கிழைகள் உருவாகும் இடத்தில் அதாவது தாய் மரத்திற்கும் தண்டிற்கும் இடைப்பட்ட உரியப் பகுதியில் சிறு வெட்டு ஒன்று போடப்பட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு சிறு வெட்டு ஒன்றைப் போடுவதன் மூலம் தாய் மரத்திற்கும் புதிய கிழைக்கும் இடையில் பகுதி அளவான தொடர்பைத் துண்டிக்க முடியும். சிறு வெட்டு ஒன்று போடப்பட்ட பின்னர் தாய் மரமும் கிழையும் ஒன்றுடன் ஒன்று ஒட்டாமல் இருக்க (தொடர்பு இல்லாமல்) இடையில் சிறு பொலித்தீனை மறித்து வைக்க வேண்டும். பின்னர் கிழை விடும் பகுதியின் கீழ்ப் பகுதியில் மண் மற்றும் கூட்டெருக்களைக் கொண்டு பொலித்தீன் ஒன்றினால் கட்டி கிழமைக்கு ஒரு முறை நீர் விட வேண்டும். இங்கு மண்ணிற்குப் பதிலாக தும்புத் தூள் பயன்படுத்துவது மிகவும் வினைத்திறனாக இருக்கும். இவ்வாறு கிழமைக்கு ஒரு முறை நீர் விட்டுக்கொண்டுவரும் போது 15 நாட்களில் புதிய கிழையில் இருந்து வேர்கள் வந்துவிடும். விரைவான வேர் வளர்ச்சிக்காக IBA என்ற Indol Butic Acid ஐத் தடவுவதும் உண்டு.

15 நாட்களின் பின்னர் வேர்கள் உருவாகிய கிழைகளை (கன்றுகளை) வெட்டி பிரித்தெடுத்து கிட்டத்தட்ட 10 நாட்களிற்கு அந்தப் பொலித்தீனோடே சாடி ஒன்றினுள் (விற்பனைக்காக என்றால்)  அல்லது சொந்த தேவைக்காக என்றால் நிலத்தில் நிழலில் வைக்க வேண்டும். போதியளவான வேர்கள் உருவாகிய பின்னர் அந்த அந்த பொலித்தீனை அகற்ற முடியும். மேலும் அடிப்பகுதியில் இருந்து மேலிருந்து கீழ்நோக்கி மெல்லிய கீறல்கள் செய்யும் போது கலங்கள் மேவி வளர்ந்து அடிப்பகுதி பெரிதாகும். இதனால் காற்று பலமாக வீசும் போது மரம் முறியாது. 

பதி வைத்தல் மரத்தின் சிறப்பம்சம் யாதெனில் நிலத்தில் இருந்து 30 சென்ரி மீட்டர் அல்லது ஒரு அடியில் இருந்து காய்கள் வர ஆரம்பிக்கும். புதிய ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரத்தில் இருந்து கிடைக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு பழமும் கிட்டத்தட்ட இரண்டு அல்லது இரண்டரைக் கிலோ நிறையில் இருக்கும்.

இவ்வாறு 15 ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரங்களை பராமரிப்பதன் மூலம் கிட்டத்தட்ட ருபா 40,000 ஐ மாத வருமானமாக பெறக் கூடியதாக இருக்கும் என புன்னகையுடன் அந்த விவசாயி தெரிவித்தார்.  இங்கு மிக முக்கியமான விடயம் யாதெனில், தும்புத் தூள் அல்லது கூட்டெருக்களை வைத்து பொலித்தீனால் கட்டப்பட்ட இடத்தில் இருந்து உருவாக்கப்படும் புதிய பப்பாசி மரக்கன்று தாய் மரத்தில் உள்ள அதே குணாம்சங்கள் மற்றும் பழத்தின் சுவை முதலானவையில் எந்தவொரு மாற்றமும் இன்றி தாய் மரத்தின் சாயலைக் கொண்டதாக இருக்கும்.

 அத்தோடு அவை குறுகிய காலத்தினுள் தொடர்ச்சியாக வருமானம் ஈட்டக் கூடிய வகையில் சிறந்த பலனைப் பெற்றுக்கொள்ள கூடியதாகவும் இருக்கும். இந்த ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசிப் பழம் ஏனைய பப்பாசிப் பழங்களைப் போலன்றி இனிப்பு சுவை நிறைந்ததாகவும், எவரும் தேடி வந்து வாங்கக் கூடிய அளவிற்கு சந்தை வாய்ப்பைக் கொண்டதாகவும் காணப்படுகின்றது.

பதி வைத்தல் முறையினூடாக உருவாக்கப்படும் ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசியால் கிடைக்கும் நன்மைகள்

·        பதி வைத்தல் மூலம் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட மரம் ஒன்றரை அடி உயரத்தில் இருந்தே தொடர்ச்சியாகப் பழத்தைக் கொடுக்கும்.

·        ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசிப் பழத்தின் அதே இனிப்புச் சுவை என்றும் மாறாது.

·        பழங்களை அறுவடை செய்கின்றபோது ஏற்படும் இழப்புகளை முற்றாகத் தவிர்க்கலாம்.

·        நேரடியாக பீடைகளை பௌதீக முறைப்படி அகற்றலாம்.

·        குறுகிய உயரத்திலேயே பழத்தைப் பெறலாம். 

·        செலவு குறைந்த மற்றும் தொடர்ச்சியான வருமானம் ஈட்டக் கூடியதாகவும் இருக்கின்றது.

·        ஒரு மரத்தில் இருந்து பல ‘Red Lady’ (றெட் லேடி) பப்பாசி மரக் கன்றுகளை ஒரே நேரத்தில் உருவாக்க முடியும். 

எழுத்து: சர்மிலா திரிகரன், பால்நிலை அபிவிருத்தி உத்தியோகத்தர், திட்ட முகாமைத்துவ அலகு - CSIAP
புகைப்படம் மற்றும் தகவல்: த. சேகரன், சமூக பாதுகாப்பு உத்தியோகத்தர் - EP, CSIAP
பு. சாய் புருசோத்தமன், விவசாய இலகுபடுத்துநர் - கோமாரி, - EP, CSIAP

தயவு செய்து Video வைப் பார்க்க லிங்னை கிளிக் செய்யவும்

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-04-03

 Objectives and Scope of the Plan

• To assess the current land use pattern and status of the Hambantota District HSA and assess current/future demands that are shaping the use of land/natural resources within it.
• To review the ecological character of the Hambantota District HSA, and map existing forest patches, corridors and other important ecosystems within it including food production areas. 
• Identify issues, threats and drivers of change that have and will continue to shape the ecological character and balance within the landscape. The focus here should be centred mainly on ecosystems within and adjacent to the HSA landscape that supports the food production ecosystems.
• To determine critical ecological networks within the HSA landscape and the economic value of key ecosystem services, especially focusing on benefits to food production ecosystems.
• To study the extent of the HEC over the last 10 years, with a particular emphasis on HEC levels (number and intensity) that exist in the landscape today and how it will increase and intensify with agricultural expansion and productivity improvement that is planned under the HSAAD (Hotspot Area Agriculture Development) plan. Mapping of the potential movement paths of elephants in particular (normally an elephant is assessed to move 2800sq Km a year). This is essential to suggest mitigation measures due to HEC (Humen Elephant Conflict).
• To understand the social impacts of the HEC on community living and livelihoods including impacts on vulnerable groups.
• To identify key stakeholder groups in the HSA landscape, assess their level of interest and influence on its future land use and identify means of engaging them for fostering greater harmony between conservation and production land-use practices – to improve the climate resilience of the HSA landscape.  The involvement of local communities in a participatory approach will be very useful
• To identify appropriate landscape-level management strategies that will promote integrated management of agricultural areas and the natural resources that underpin ecosystem services that are essential for food production and buffer against climate risks.

Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist of the CSIAP briefed participants on the objectives of the workshop. Mr. H.M.P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP and Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant, World Bank also expressed their views too. Senior government officials representing various institutions attended the workshop. the Agro-Ecological Landscape Resilience Plan in Hambanthota was developed by Teams Consultants.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-03-15

The World Bank Funded Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) has been implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in 2019 as a five-year project to improve the climate resilience of smallholder farming communities and improve the productivity of irrigated agriculture in 06 Provinces, 11 districts, 52 Agrarian Service Centers (ASCs) Divisions, and 256 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) which areas are identified as climatically vulnerable hotspot areas in Sri Lanka. Climatically vulnerable hotspot areas reveal that the prolonged draughts, heavy intense rainfall flash floods, variation of seasonal patterns, strong winds, and rising sea levels have become the main climate change impacts for the farmers living in hotspot areas.

The CSIAP is promoting various adaptation strategies to combat the climate change impacts for project beneficiaries those are:

1.     Promote Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices and technologies among men and women smallholder farmers.

2.    Provide water for agriculture through the rehabilitation of minor tanks, and improve the cascade development.

3.    Increase access to the markets by promoting market linkages, post-harvest processing, value chain development, and providing the machinery for improving the value chain development activities.

4.    Promote climate change adaptation and CSA technologies among smallholder farmer beneficiaries (men and women farmers) through capacity-building and by providing required agricultural inputs.

CSA is a quite new concept to the Sri Lankan smallholder farming community, even though the farmers apply some traditional CSA practices without a real scientific background. Therefore, there is a critical need to increase and build the capacities of stallholder men and women farmers for the use of CSA technologies and practices to fulfil the requirement.  In this scenario, an eco-friendly dedicated CSA Farmer Training School (FTS) was newly built by the CSIAP which opened end of 2022 in the Thirappane area of the Anuradhapura District. Officials of the Provincial Deputy Project Directors Offices (PDPDO) are already involved in selecting the lead farmers through the Farmer Organizations (FO) and Producer Societies (PS) for the training. Through that, farmers are promoted to build up their knowledge, and skills on the CSA technologies among both men and women through the newly built FTS of CSIAP. Once the lead farmers get knowledge of the CSA technology at the FTS, they go back to their villages and share their knowledge with the other farmers.

 The men and women farmers are identified by the provincial Deputy Project Director (DPD) offices to represent all ASC divisions and make necessary arrangements to transport them to FTS promises on time. 25 lead farmers (14 men and 11 women) are being recruited to each batch for the 03 days residential training program on CSA practices and technology at the FTS. Most importantly, CSIAP is always ensuring the project’s target that is when the lead farmers are recruited to the CSA training program, at least 40% of the leaded farmers should be female farmers. Therefore, Women farmers will get the opportunity to adopt the CSA technologies in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas. 

The project is continually transferring knowledge on CSA technology to the participants through the FTS. Men and women farmers gain knowledge on the climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation of climate change impacts, how CSA can help to overcome the adverse impacts of climate change, sustainable management of the natural and farming landscape, building the resilience of local ecosystems, adjusting cropping calendar as per weather forecast, selection of tolerated crop varieties, on-farm water management technics, building soil resilience through soil fertility management, protecting crops from climate-induced pest resurgence, and sustainable intensification of crop production, crop-livestock integration, fodder protection, and seasonal stocking of freshwater fish in the village tanks, productivity enhancement through mechanization, the use of market information, value addition, and marketing for increasing farmer income. Knowledge acquired from training used for CSIAP interventions, and knowledge disseminated among fellow members of the community.

CSIAP is planned to carry out 62 training sessions for leader farmers (both men and women) and technical officers during the project period and build capacities of 1860 participants on CSA technologies and practices. So far 08 training conducted at the eco-friendly CSA FTS 184 lead men & women farmers have participated. Out of that 42% of women farmers were trained in CSA practices and technology at the FTS.

 Table No: 01 Details of the training program conducted at the dedicated CSA farmer training school, Thirappane on the CSA Practices and Technologies.

An Eco-friendly dedicated CSA farmer training school is one of the most important assets for the farming community in Sri Lanka. Social inequalities put many people on the frontline of harmful climate change impacts while constraining their options for taking action to reduce them through adaptation. Gender is often a defining factor of these barriers to adaptation.

It is important to say that inclusive and meaningful participation of all community groups, particularly the most vulnerable is included in the training programs. Participation in the training program empowers men, women, boys, and girls to find solutions to their development challenges. Empowering women and engaging men in a process where women and men work together as equally recognized decision-makers at the FTS. It is a crucial pathway toward gender equality and resilience among the smallholder farming community in climatically vulnerable hotspot areas.  

In addition to the above facts, men and women farmers listen, learn and respect each other, are trained to be culturally and socially sensitive, prepared to unlearn negative attitudes and stereotypes, personal cultural/ gender bias, share their knowledge, experiences, etc. with their community.                               

Females' participation on training programmes at Framer Training School in Thirappane, Anuradhapura

Written by Sharmila Thirhiharan, Gender Development Officer, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-03-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-03-04

Mr. Martin Raiser, South Asian Vice President of the World Bank receives a token of appreciation prepared by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)  during the observation tour at the Farmer Training School ( FTS) in Thirappane, Anuradhapura from Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary of Agriculture recently. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-03-03

 The first ever Climate Smart Farmer Training School in South Asia established at Thirappane will prepare Sri Lankan farmers for climate change, said Mr. Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for South Asia during a visit to the Farmer Training School (FTS) at Thirappane, Anuradhapura recently. “What the farmers learn here is how to conserve water and how to use new planting techniques. I was told, with these techniques they can increase income by 30% and reduce the water that they need to irrigate by more than half,” Mr. Raiser added.

The World Bank’s Vice President visited the FTS in the company of Mr. Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director of the World Bank for Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, Ms. Chiyo Kanda, Country Manager of the World Bank for Maldives and Sri Lanka and other World Bank officials. The FTS, built at a cost of Rs. 40 million by the World Bank-funded Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, has been designed to build the capacity of project beneficiaries for the use of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and combat the adverse impacts of climate change. Mr. Faris H. Hadad-Zervos and Ms. Chiyo Kanda laid foundation stones for the FTS on 22 December 2021, and the school was declared open by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture on 4 December 2022.

Expressing his views, Mr. Raiser said, “The Farmer Training School at Thirappane is a great project. Very happy to see the first Climate Smart Farmer Training School in South Asia and how Sri Lankan farmers are being prepared for climate change.” When inquired about advancing FTS up to international standards, Mr Raiser responded, “There is a lot of international learning that is possible. Some techniques, such as mulching and drip irrigation I see here, have been used in other countries like China. However, lot of the knowledge needs to be local – you need to understand the local crops and the local soil. Sri Lanka has the capacity, with some international support, to develop a top class system yourselves.” “We also have internationally renowned Agriculture Experts who can come here and talk to local scientists to develop the right solutions together,” added Mr. Raiser.

A part of the CSIAP project is focusing on the rehabilitation of local irrigation systems. This system retains rainwater and then transmit it along irrigation channels onto the command area of the CSIAP. Several of Sri Lanka’s irrigation channels, draining systems and tanks are currently dilapidated and silted up. This means they can store less water and the soil is salinized; thus, more land erodes into tanks. This reduces the effectiveness of the agriculture systems in Sri Lanka. The goal of CSIAP is to rehabilitate local irrigation systems and improve farmer knowledge to ensure Sri Lanka’s future in climate-smart agriculture and help generate higher incomes for farmers.

“My message to Sri Lankan farmers is to continue to study and learn. Do not just do everything that you have done. Find a better way to do it. Talk to each other, communicate, learn from others, and share experiences. That’s why a school like this is here.”

The Vice President, Country Director and Country Manger awarded certificates to Farmer Leaders from Gomarankadawara Agrerian Service Center Division in Eastern Province of  the 6th group who undertook a 3-day Residential Training Programme at the FTS. To mark this occasion, Mr. Raiser received a token of appreciation prepared by the CSIAP from Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary of Agriculture at the event.

Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project presented a report on the current progress of the project. Some of the farmers who participated in the training programme expressed their views regarding the benefits they received due to the project.

Mr. Vijaya Wanasinghe, Provincial Secretary of Agriculture, North Central Province, Ms. K.N.C Gunawardhana, Director, Dr. Wasantha Mallawaarachchi- Principle Scientist,  Dr. M.S. Nijamudeen, Principle Scientist, Field crop & Research Development Institute, Mahailuppallama, Ms. Sandya N.G Abeysekara, Additional District Secretary, North Central Province, representatives of implementing agencies, farmers and CSIAP staff attended in this event.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-03-03

The overall objective of the Cascade Management Committees (CMCs)  is to restore and improve the watershed system through integrated management and manage water and associated natural resources in a sustainable manner to enhance the living standards of rural communities. In order to achieve to above objective, an awareness programme and nominating framer leaders for CMC were conducted at Yodawewa Beach Hotel in Tissamaharama by the Deputy Project Director’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).  Mr. Mahinda Suwandaarachchi, Deputy Project Director  (Southern Province)  of the CSIAP explained the importance of the CMCs at this programme which was attended by 78 farmer leaders. Mr. R.P.M. Dissanayake, Institutional Development and Capacity Building Specialist (Southern Province and Mr. D.V. Bandulasena, Institutional Development and Capacity Building Specialist(Project Management Unit of the CSIAP also made farmer leaders aware of forming CMCs.

Strengthening the institutional framework in the cascade is identified as one of the key requirements for managing the cascade system. Therefore, CMCs are to be formed, consisting of the farmer Organizations and local level officials for resources (water and land) management at the cascade level. The CSIAP will establish 30 CMCs in North Western, 12 CMCs in North Central, 10 CMCs in Northern, 12 CMCs in Eastern, 07 in Southern and 09 CMS in Uva provinces respectively.

Story by R.P.M. Dissanayake (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), SP, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-03-01

The purpose of the day is to celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures around the world and to promote awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting linguistic diversity. It also aims to promote the use of mother languages in education and everyday life, as well as to encourage people to learn and use other languages. On International Mother Language Day, people around the world celebrate their mother tongues, organize cultural events, and participate in language-related activities to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) funded by the World Bank and implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture uses mother languages to achieve project development objectives in areas where the CSIAP is being implemented in the following way.

1. Effective communication: It is the most natural way of communication for individuals, and using it in agriculture ensures clear and precise communication. In rural areas, farmers may not have a strong grasp of the official language or other languages used in agriculture, and communicating with them in their mother language can help them understand technical information better.

2. Transfer of knowledge and traditional practices: It is often closely tied to the cultural and traditional practices of a community. Using it in agriculture can facilitate the transfer of knowledge and traditional practices from one generation to the next. This is especially important in agriculture, where traditional practices and knowledge can play an important role in sustainable farming and the conservation of natural resources.

3. Engagement and empowerment: Using the mother language in agriculture can help engage and empower farmers who may feel excluded or marginalized due to their limited knowledge of the official language or other languages used in agriculture. This can help create a sense of belonging and community, which can motivate farmers to take an active interest in their work and participate in decision-making processes.

      4. Promotion of local products and culture: It is often closely linked to the culture, identity, and values of a community. Using it in agriculture can help promote local products and culture, which can be beneficial for local economies and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Mother language plays an important role in agriculture by facilitating communication, access to resources, building relationships, and sharing knowledge and best practices. Overall, using the mother language in agriculture can have significant benefits for effective communication, knowledge transfer, empowerment, and the promotion of local products and culture and it can also help create a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector to reach the CSIAP’s objectives.

Image: Curtsey of the UN. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-21

This workshop, which was held in two sessions of one week each, had been initiated under the instructions of  Eng R.M.B. Rajakauruna, Project Director, the CSIAP and this workshop was guided by the Senior Engineering Consultant Eng. H.G.M.Kulasinghe.  Project Engineering Consultants Eng. R.M.H.N Bandara and Eng. P.H.S. Rangika made their contribution to the workshop as resource persons along with the Engineering Trainee Mr. B.D.M.S.B Dissanayake. Participants received Certificates of participation in the workshop. Mr. S.M Seelarathne, Deputy Project Director (North Central Province) of the CSIAP of CSIAP (NCP) coordinated the workshop.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-20

 The main objective of FFS is to enhance the capacities of support organization officials and farmer leaders to promote CSA technologies and practices in their villages. Subsequently, the project aims to impart their knowledge and skills on CSA practices to village-level potential farmers to respond to the adverse climate impacts in their villages. In addition, the project mobilizes trained leader farmers to organize training activities and disseminate knowledge on CSA practices among peer groups. All training programs are conducted with the collaboration of the Extension division of the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Peradeniya, including the allocation of potential resource persons for training sessions. All sessions are to be organized as residential (03 days) intensive, multi-session and multi-activity group learning sessions that use lectures, group discussions, demonstrations of practical activities, videos, and other audio-visual resources as well as entertainment activities (drams and role play), etc.

The fifth o training programme is being conducted presently at the FFS with the participation of 18 lead farmers including 05 women from the Thunukkai Agrarian Service Centre area in Mullaitivu Districts.  Apart from the in-house lectures delivered, farmers were given hands-on experience in the field by subject specialists.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-17

The Provincial Office of the CSIAP in NWP has already started renovating 141 tanks in the provinces investing Rs 1661 million to boost the agricultural economy which leads to improving the livelihood of the farming community in the project area. As the chief guest, the Provincial Secretary of Agriculture Mr. D. M .K. Chandana  Dissanayake unveiled plaques of tanks and poured pots of milk into tanks to mark the opening.  Deputy Project Director of CSIAP in NWP Mr. W.M.S Wijesinghe opened sluice gates and handed certificates of completing the renovation of tanks to farm organizations. Invitees to the event planted trees and a traditional ceremony was also held to bless the cultivation and farming community too.

The Divisional Secretary in Ambanpola Mrs. H.M.C.J. Herath, Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture Mr. P. Sisira Kumara, Director of Provincial Irrigation Mr. W. Kamalsiri, around fifty government officers representing provincial departments,  over 120 farmers, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP in NWP Mr. W.M.S Wijesinghe and his staff attended this programme.

Story and Photographs by Chamara Basnayake (Agriculture Facilitator), Rajanganaya ASC, NWP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-08

The Deputy Project Director’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in North Western Province (NWP) encourages farmers to run Vegetable Shops to sell their surplus organic home garden harvest to consumers to earn extra income.  The CSIAP promotes Organic Home Gardening which means gardening without using synthetic products like fertilizers and pesticides. It involves the use of only natural products to grow plants in home gardens. Organic gardening replenishes natural resources as it uses them. Around 16762 Climate Smart Home Gardens have already been started by the CSIAP Office in NWP and the provincial office has planned to invest Rs 1.6M to inaugurate 36 vegetable shops across the province to support farmers. Eggs (backyard poultry) and value-added products such as  Turmeric  powder and Chili powder will be sold by these shops too.

Vegetable shops are a fundamental part of the rural interface and this will give the opportunity to consumers to purchase fresh vegetables, specially produced directly from Home Gardens. Vegetable Shops allow consumers to have access to locally grown, fresh produce and enable farmers to develop personal relationships with their customers. The first vegetable shop belongs to Mrs. K.M. Indrani Kusumalatha in Vadurassa village located in the Ambanpola Agrarian Service Center area in Kurunegala district was declared open recently under the patronage of the Provincial Secretary of Agriculture Mr. D.M.K. Chandana Dissanayake and the Divisional Secretary in Ambanpola Mrs. H.M.C.J. Herath.

Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture Mr. P. Sisira Kumara, Director of Provincial Irrigation Mr. W. Kamalsiri, around forty government officers representing provincial departments,  over 120 farmers, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP in NWP Mr. W.M.S Wijesinghe and his staff were present in this event.

Story and Photographs by Chamara Basnayake (Agriculture Facilitator), Rajanganaya ASC, NWP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-07

The Deputy Project Director’s Office of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) in Southern took initiative to establish CMCs in the province and awareness of CMCs was held at the Divisional Secretariat’s Auditorium in Tissamaharama recently.  The CSIAP will establish 30 CMCs in North Western, 12 CMCs in North Central, 10 CMCs in Northern, 12 CMCs in Eastern, 07 in Southern and 09 CMS in Uva provinces respectively.

At this meeting presided over by the District Secretary in Hambantota Mr P.H Sumanasekara, former Head of the Water Management Division at the Department of Agrarian Development and retired Chief Engineer Prabath Vithana delivered a special lecture on the importance of the cascade system, social, and economic and environmental aspects of the cascade. Institutional Development and Capacity Building Specialist and acting Deputy Project Director of the Project Management Unit (PMU), CSIAP, Mr. D.V. Bandulasena explained the formation process of CMCs, its duties and responsibilities of it. Heads of Line Agencies agreed to nominate their representatives for each CMC too. and heads of line agencies and field officers including 120 participants attended this event.

Story by R.P.M. Dissanayake (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), SP, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-07

The Deputy Project Director’s Office (DPDO) of the CSIAP in Uva Province forms around 9973 home gardens in the Agrarian Serve Center area of Buttala. Grow bags, seeds and plants were already given to farmers to implement home garden programmes in the area. The officials of DPDO visited  14 home gardens to see their progress with Agriculture Instructor (Kukurampola  Range) Mr. R.M.P.Ramanayake recently. Instructions were given to framers to improve  their home gardens further by Mr. Ramanayake

Story and Photographs by R. Dushyanthan (Agriculture Facilitator), Buththala ASC, UP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-02-02

Eng. R. M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director led the CSIAP’s team which included Deputy Project Directors, Subject Specialists and officers at this meeting. Dr. (Ms) E. R. S. P. Edirimanna, Additional Secretary (Agri Technology). Mrs. M. M. Renuka Rathnayaka, Director (Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathne, Commissioner General, Mr. R. Vijayakumar, Commissioner (Development) of the Department of Agrarian Development and Mr. Nuwan Weerasooriya, Assistant Director, Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment were also present in this meeting. Please click Images to see more photos of the event.

Photograhs by Gayani Dasanayake, PMU, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-24

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-22

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-17

Value-added foods are increasingly beneficial in addressing food security, nutrition and poverty. The term “value-added foods” includes crops or foods that have been enhanced through a variety of improvements, including processing, fortification, increased safety or nutrition, better packaging or extended storage. The benefits of value-added foods include providing better nutrition; greater income for producers; access to new markets; and new processes to improve packaging and storage to reduce waste and ensure greater food safety.

Representing the Northern province, 4 Agriculture Instructors, 3 Agriculture facilitators and 16 small entrepreneurs including 10 female entrepreneurs participated in this training. and the majority of entrepreneurs who attended were cassava chip makers and bakery manufacturers.

Following the bad economic recession in the country, most of the bakeries are collapsing in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts due to price escalation and scarcity of wheat flour. Therefore, the main task of this training programme was not aiming at replacing wheat flour completely or partially with manioc flour.  but introducing other manic-based value-added products like sago, biscuits and cake. Value-added food production is cost-effective, can make easily and has high nutritive value compared to wheat-based foods. All participants had hands-on experience too.

 The key contents of the training are Post-harvest technology of Manioc, Identification of Manioc processing equipment, Identification & characteristics of raw materials, Packaging, Designing of a label with participants as a group activity, Solutions for your packaging (technical) and other relevant problems, Suitable packaging/material for your products, Contact details for packaging equipment and packaging material, Usage of packaging equipment with entrepreneurs, Preparation of Manioc flour, Manioc starch, Manioc Cake, Manioc sago and Manioc Biscuit.

Story by R. Sanjeepan (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), NP, CSIAP 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-16

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) launches its first-ever Drone spraying services for farmers and officers in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts recently. This Drone services will help farmers gain better and uniform spraying across their crops and address the farm labour shortage. The advanced technology of drone spraying will save farmers' time and ensure their safety from higher exposure to liquid pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides.

 The demonstration of the drone spray service was conducted in the presence of farmers and officers by Eng. K. Arulvaratharjaah, Nilaveli Lagoon (Pvt) Ltd at Government Seed Production Farm, Paranthan, Kilinochchi recently. This high-efficiency drone is capable of operating twenty-five times faster than a traditional knapsack sprayer. Agrochemical was sprayed in 2 hectares of paddy field within 30 minutes efficiently in front of the participants by this drone. Before the demonstration, a group discussion was conducted regarding the drone technology, use of organic pesticides and fertilizers in drone sprayer, advantages, disadvantages and limitations, of drone sprayer delays in getting security approvals and economic analysis of drone application.  Around 122 personnel including 31 females participated in this event.

Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director (NP), Subject Specialists and officers of the CSIAP organized and coordinated the demonstration. Officials of Field Crops Research Development Centre (Kilinochchi), Animal Production & Health (Kilinochchi), Seed & Planting Material Development Centre (Kilinochchi), Provincial Department of Agriculture (Kilinochchi), Provincial Department of Agriculture (Mullaitivu),  Government Departments, NGOs, private sector, Representatives of private companies, Seed producers, leaders of Farmer Organizations, members of Producer Societies and farmers were present in this demonstration programme.

Story by R. Sanjeepan (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), NP, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-16

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) conducts the third two-day residential training programme on the GIS-based Management Information System (MIS) for its staff in North Western and North Central Provinces today (12th) at the Creston Park Hotel in Anuradhapura. Mr. S.M. Seelarathna, Deputy Project Director (Northern Central Province), CSIAP welcomed all the participants and pointed out the importance of using MIS for the CSIAP.  Eng. R.M.B. Rajakaruna, Project Director, CSIAP addressed participants and highlighted that  MIS, which stores and organizes data, enables CSIAP Staff to generate reports and analyze data to address CSIAP’s needs and present information while having top-level meetings including the World Bank.  

The MIS, which is a software system that focuses on the management of information technology to provide efficient and effective strategic decision-making, helps the CSIAP to coordinate, visualize, analyze information and make decisions through its activities. The above MIS is a combination of its multiple sub-components to provide the relevant information to take out useful information. An integrated system, which blends information from selected operational areas, is a necessary characteristic of MIS.

Celata Tech (Pvt) Ltd invented the GI-based MIS for the CSIAP.  Mr. Dinesh Denipitiya, Senior Business Manager (Operations), Chamath Ekanayake, Tech Lead, Mr. Pavithra Prabodya, Senior Software Engineer and Pramodya Amarajeewa, Software Engineer of Celata Tech (Pvt) Ltd explained the new system and provided the CSIAP staff with hands-on experience.  Mr. W.M.S. Wijesinghe, Deputy Project Director (North Western Province), Subject Specialists of the Project Management Unit of the CSIAP also participated. The Deputy Project Director (North Western Province) of the  CSIAP organized this training programme and Mr. Nalaka Attanayake, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of the CSIAP coordinated it.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-12

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) continued the second two-day residential training programme on the GIS-based Management Information System (MIS) for its staff of in Northern and Eastern Provinces today (10th) at the auditorium of the Department of Agrarian Development Kilinochchi. Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director (Northern Province), CSIAP welcomed all the participants. The MIS is a computerized database that helps the CSIAP to make decisions, coordinate, visualize and analyze information through its activities. Celata Tech (Pvt) Ltd invented the GI-based MIS for the CSIAP.  Mr. Dinesh Denipitiya, Senior Business Manager (Operations), Chamath Ekanayake, Tech Lead, Mr. Pavithra Prabodya, Senior Software Engineer and Pramodya Amarajeewa, Software Engineerof Celata Tech (Pvt) Ltd explained the new system and provided the CSIAP staff with hands-on experience. Ms. Sharmila Shanmuganathan, Gender Development Officer of the CSIAP contributed by interpreting Sinhalese and English lectures into Tamil.   

The same programme will be continued for the CSIAP staff in North Western and North Central Provinces. Dr. R. M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director (Eastern Province), Subject Specialists of the Project Management Unit of the CSIAP also participated. The Deputy Project Director (Northern Province) of the  CSIAP organized this training programme and Mr. Nalaka Attanayake, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of the CSIAP coordinated it.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-10

Photographs by Gayani Dassanayake, PMU-CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2023-01-02

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-12-21

Dapog nursery method, which is used to produce seedlings for transplant paddy seedlings in the field by using either Mechanical or Manual Paddy Transplanters, is introduced to farmers in Buttala located in Uva province by the Deputy Project Director’s Office (Uva Province) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project.

This nursery is maintained for around 14 days by daily applying water and fertilizer as required. After 14 days, these seedlings can be  used  for planting by removing the polythene sheet and  cutting the nursery into pieces and inserting them into transplanting trays. There are several benefits of the Dapok nursery. It needs less area to produce seedlings and requires less quantity of seed paddy (12 -15Kgs ) to cultivate 01-acre paddy land. In addition, the uprooting cost of paddy seedlings is very low when compared with the manual transplanting system. Hence it is explicit the Dapog system leads to minimising production cost for paddy farmers and increasing farmer family income.  

Over 120 farmers participated in the 03 training programmes conducted  in Buttala ASC (Agrarian Service Center) division to gain experience in preparing Dapog nurseries and around 400 transplanting trays were given to farmers. Agriculture Instructor Mr. K. D. I. Amitha Premalal (Buththala range), Agriculture Research and Production Assistants Ms. R.M.Kanthy and  Mr. J. Gunadasa conducted the training. 

Story and Photographs by R. Dushyanthan (Agriculture Facilitator), Buththala ASC, UP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-12-13

This workshop, which was held in two sessions of one week each, was initiated under the instructions of  Eng R.M.B. Rajakauruna, Project Director, CSIAP and was guided by the Senior Engineering Consultant Eng H.G.M.Kulasinghe.  Project Engineering Consultants Eng R.M.H.N Bandara and Eng P.H.S. Rangika made their contribution to the workshop as resource persons.  Mr. W.M.S. Wijesinghe, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP (NWP) coordinated the workshop.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-12-09

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-12-07

The FFS was declared open by the Ministry of is declared open by Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation on 04^th  at Thirappaney.  The main objective of FFS is to enhance the capacities of support organization officials and farmer leaders to promote CSA technologies and practices in their villages. Subsequently, the project aims to impart their knowledge and skills on CSA practices to village-level potential farmers to respond to the adverse climate impacts in their villages. In addition, the project mobilizes trained leader farmers to organize training activities and disseminate knowledge on CSA practices among peer groups.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-12-06

Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Senior Officials of the Ministry and Subject Specialists of the CSIAP attended this meeting. 

Photograph by Pathum Rasanjana, Ministry of Agriculture

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-11-21

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) continually provides farmers with inputs to carry out cultivation without delay in the areas where the CSIAP is being implemented. Under this, around 700 farmers representing producer societies in  Mallikativu, Manakandal and Puthukudiyiruppu East received Rs 6.65m worth of inputs recently from the CSIAP.

Inputs such as 13 types of vegetable seeds, Turmeric & Ginger rhizomes, 50 Grow bags, Plants (Guava, Lime, Murunga, Papaw, Passion) Manioc and Sweet potato cuttings were distributed among farmers. The World Bank Team headed by Mr.  Sheu Salau, CO- Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader handed inputs over to farmers with CSIAP staff.

Addressing the audience Mr. Salau said that the World Bank always support improving the productivity and living standards of the farming community. Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan and Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank, Mr. George Babu, Provincial Deputy Project Director (Northern Province) Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP attended this event.

Story by R. Sanjeepan (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), NP, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-11-10

The Sales Centre & Training Hall built at the Agrarian Service Center in Puthukudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu under the modernization of Agrarian Service Centers was inaugurated by the World Bank recently. The World Bank Delegations led by Mr.  Sheu Salau, CO- Task Team Leader (TTL) of the CSIAP & Mission Leader along with Consultant Mr. S. Manoharan ceremonially opened the new Center and Hall by unveiling the plague, and the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) spent Rs 10m to modernize the Puthukudiyiruppu Agrarian Service Center. Dr. Athula Senarathne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank, Mr. George Babu, Provincial Deputy Project Director (Northern Province) Subject Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP were on this attended this occasion.

Story by R. Sanjeepan (Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist), NP, CSIAP

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-11-10

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2022-11-09

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is recruiting 47 Agricultural Field Facilitators to work in identified Agrarian Service Regions located in following provinces and Project Management Unit (PMU) in Colombo.

 The 8 for North Central Province, 12 for North Western Province, 03 for Uva Province, 03 for Southern Province, 12 for Eastern Province, 07 for Northern Province and  02 for Project Monitoring Unit , Colombo.

a.     A successfully completed two years Diploma in Agriculture, which is recognized by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission. Preference will be given to experience gained in the field of agriculture extension.

b.    Age limit: Candidates above 30 years of age on the closing date of application are not eligible to apply.

c.     Payment: Monthly allowance Rs 45,000, in addition, Travelling and reporting reimbursement Rs 7500 (Monthly allowance and reimbursements are based on monthly work done)

A brief Job description: Assist and facilitate agriculture instructors working in Hot Spot area    to promote Climate Smart Practices and technologies among the farming community, while maintaining very close association with all relevant stakeholder agencies and community-based organization of the Agrarian service area and collecting all data and information relevant to project activities and assist in the Formation and Strengthening producer societies, producer associations, social audit committees, farmer organization, producer federations and maintaining good governance practices in above community-based organization, promote groups and collective activities through community-based organization and while maintaining very close associations with all relevant stakeholder agencies.

Please visit https://www.csiap.lk/vacancies for further details.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-06-11

World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5^th to bring awareness among the people regarding environmental issues and to take positive steps for the survival of the environment. The theme for World Environment Day 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration”. This year, the Day will also serve as the formal launch of the United Nations Decade on “Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030”. The restoration could occur in many ways – for example; through actively planting or by removing pressures so that nature could recover on its own. It is not always possible or desirable to return an ecosystem to its original state. We still need farmland and infrastructure on land that was once forest, for instance, and ecosystems, like societies, need to adapt to a changing climate.

 The CSIAP is expected to bring positive environmental benefits to the project areas through the scale-up of climate-resilient agricultural technologies and farming practices that help improve soil health, water use efficiency, and catchment area treatment to promote more efficient use of surface water and more sustainable use of groundwater for agriculture. An Environment Assessment and Management Framework (EAMF) has been prepared to guide the screening of activities for physical investments, project-supported advisory, policy support interventions, resulting in implementation from an environmental perspective, mitigation actions to manage their environmental impacts including preparation, implementation of Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) to address site-specific risks and impacts and subsequent monitoring and reporting requirements.

The CSIAP has taken several actions to bring awareness among the people regarding environmental issues and to take positive steps for the survival of the environment and ecosystem restoration. More than 150 Environmental Screening and Environmental Management Plans were prepared to identify the negative environmental impact and to produce mitigation measures through the project activities. The Green Building Concept was introduced through the 47 ASC modernization activities. It highly emphasized asbestos and led free materials for the use of the rehabilitation process.

The project has conducted five major production programs which were applied a holistic pest control approach that utilizes all available pest control strategies on a case-by-case basis while maintaining the pest population below at an Economically Injury Level (EIL). Whenever possible, human-animal and ecosystem-friendly pest control strategies are used.

Irrigation rehabilitation programs are implemented for the rehabilitation, modernization of tanks in the hotspot area. This rehabilitation includes restoration of vegetations around the tanks to minimize water evaporation and absorption of metals in recycled water and desilting. The restoration process was successfully achieved in North Central province replanting 300 trees saving 48 trees during the tank rehabilitation process.  The CSIAP was able to save thousands of trees as well as flora and fauna during the implementation of project activities including ASC modernization, tank rehabilitation, agri road rehabilitating and cultivation program.   

The Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) is particularly significant in all the Hotspot Areas. To mitigate HEC in the hotspot area, the project has planned a mechanism to build a direct collision with humans and elephants. In order to avoid further intensifying HEC, innovative landscape-level strategies and 410 km extent “Bio Fencing” will be established where wildlife and humans can co-exist in the same landscape.

 A decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 will be declared by the United Nations to Reimagine, Recreate and restore the ecosystem in the world this year. Similar to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, the CSIAP has planned to implement the below-mentioned programs to reimagine, recreate and restore the ecosystem in the hotspot area.

Model Cascade Development - Project will develop eleven models Cascade to

1.     Holding the water from monsoons and preventing flood, recharging groundwater and storing water for irrigation, household and other uses

2.    Support restoration of vegetations around the tanks and

3.    Minimizing ecological and offsite impacts done by the farmers themselves in HAS. The aim is to enable communities to better cope with climate change impacts while restoration of ecosystem

Agro-ecological Landscape Resilience Plans - The project proposes to develop a set of science-based "integrated" climate-resilient agro-ecological landscape plan focusing on the selected cascade of the HSA. This is to understand the biodiversity attributes, ecosystem services and to introduce Nature base Solutions (NbS) for the current issues and seek opportunities to bring in greater environmental and social resilience through appropriate.

Dr. Janaka Jayawardena

 Developing Agroecology Training of Trainers (TOT) Manual and conducting TOT  Program - Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and manages ecosystems and ecosystem services supporting agriculture. It also provides disaster risk reduction benefits including climate resilience, in addition to the sustainable productivity improvement due to quality ecosystems. The project has planned to train project technical staff, extension officers and farmer awareness on agroecology in HAS. To support this process and also to support agriculture extension services, the CSIAP proposes a partnership with the (Internatuional Union of Consevation of Nature (IUCN) to develop an agroecology Training of Trainers manual and guideline.

By Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist, CSIAP.

 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-06-06

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-06-16

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) team headed by Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Acting Project Director, discussed CSIAP’s ongoing activities with Mr. A.H.M.L. Abeyrathna, Commissioner General, Department of Agrarian Development (DAD) today (18^th) at the DAD Head Office, Colombo 07.

Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe explained all activities, which are being implemented by the CSIAP in six provinces, to DAD officials. Provincial Deputy Project Directors of the  CSIAP presented activities involved at ASC (Agrarian Service Centers)  levels too.

 The CSIAP is closely working with the DAD when implementing its activities in 11 districts with 47 Agrarian Service Centers (ASCs) which are operating at the field levels to accomplish the mission of the DAD. Senior officials of CSIAP and DAD were present at the meeting.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-05-18

The 3^rd National  Steering Committee (NSC) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) was held at the Ministry of Agriculture today (08^th) under the patronage of Mr. M.B Rohana Pushpakumara, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. A fruitful discussion was conducted to highlight the importance of continuing the activities of the CSIAP by Secretary Mr. Pushpakumara too. The Acting Project Director of the CSIAP Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe delivered a presentation on the progress and current activities of the CSIAP and Mr. S. Manoharan, Task Team Leader of the CSIAP  for the World Bank pointed out the role of the World Bank in the project.

The NSC is set up at the Ministry of Agriculture, which is the Ministry taking the overall responsibility in executing the CSIAP. The NSC will consist of key officials of the major stakeholder agencies of the central government, provincial government, private sector and the apex level community organizations mainly to provide policy guidance to the project and ensure achieving project’s objectives.

 The main responsibility of the NSC is to provide strategic guidance for project implementation and to be the interface between the central and provincial institutions. The NPSC also approves the annual work program and budget of the project endorses the working arrangements with strategic partners and is briefed by the World Bank (and the Project Director) on the outcomes of implementation support and review missions carried out with the WB team.

 The World Bank Officials, Chief Secretaries of Provinces where the CSIAP being implemented, senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government Departments and  Provincial Institutions alone with  Provincial Deputy Project Directors and senior officials of the CSIAP were present at the meeting.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-04-08

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-03-31

Senior officials of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) let by Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, the Acting Project Director, had a special discussion to raise awareness about the CSIAP and its progress under the patronage of Mr. M.B Rohana Pushpakumara who assumed duties as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Dr. Weerasinghe explained the journey from the beginning of the CSIAP to the present, activities to be implemented in  2021 and  coming years, and CSIAP’s contribution to the national food production in detail during the discussion. Representing the CSIAP, subject specialists from the Project Management Unit (PMU) and Provincial Deputy Project Directors from six provinces attended the meeting held at the Ministry.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-03-10

 IEC programme on the CSIAP and ASC Digitalization was conducted for government officers at the  Poonakary ASC, Kilinochchi recently  under the patronage of Mr. M. Raghunathan, Agrarian Development Officer by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).

Around 40 officers representing Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Development and Divisional Secretariate, Poonakary attended this event. The CSIAP’s Northern Province office organized this event and on behalf of the project IECT & ICT Specialist Mr. Samanatha Mallawaarachchi delivered the main lecture on CSIAP and ASC Digitalization. Mr.Rajeswaran Sanjeepan, Institutional Development & Capacity Building Specialist  and Mr. Kathirgamanathan Kapilan, Social Safeguard Officer of the CSIAP’s Northern Provincial Office also addressed the audience.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-03-01

 The Certificate Awarding Ceremony for Agriculture Instructors who have successfully completed the Train of Trainers (TOT) Programme facilitated by the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)  was held at the Bindunuwewa Inservice Training Center recently. Around 50 officers including those from Monaragala District attended this programme. 

Mr. I.H Dharmasekara, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP delivered a special lecture on CSIAP and its activities and awarded certificates too.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-09-09

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-02-03

An awareness programme on Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and its Uva Province plans in 2021 for government officers in Buttala Divisional Secretariat Area, Monaragala District, Uva Province was held under the patronage of Mr. R. M. R. S. Thilakarathna, Divisional Secretary, Buttala at the Divisional Secretariat, Buttala on 01st of this month. 

 Agrarian Development Officers, Economic Development Officers, Grama Niladari Officers, Agriculture Instructors, Agriculture Research and Production Assistants, Samurdhi Development Officers and Mid Wives including top officials of the Divisional Secretariate and officers from CSIAP attended this event.

 Mr. I.H. Dharmarasekara, Deputy Project Director (Uva Province) CSIAP and his staff organized this programme.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-02-01

Capital TV and Kinniyan TV telecasted the event

The groundnut field day was held at Pulmuddai , Trincomalee on 07^th this month with the aim of promoting agricultural practices in  CSIAP’s command areas under the Maha Season.  The field day is a special event: A series of demonstration skits, speeches and other activities focused on a central theme are strung out over the course of a day to promote new practices and bring recognition to successful farmers and agricultural workers in a particular area. The prevailing mood is festive and the atmosphere is not unlike that of a country fair. The point of such a day is to call attention to new and exciting developments in agriculture. The Groundnut cultivation program was initiated by the Deputy Project Director’s office in the Eastern Province of Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) which desperately focusing on uplifting the country from agriculture and improving the living slandered of famers in drystone in Sri Lanka.

This field day was conducted under the patronage of Mr.M.Parameswaran, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Trincomalee) and  Dr. R. M.Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP Project (Eastern Province). The staff of the Department of Agriculture, CSIAP, Community leaders and farmers  were present at this ceremony.

Please watch  Capital TV and Kinniyan TV

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-01-11

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2021-01-01

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-12-31

The climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is moving forward in 2021 to improve living standards of farmers in CSIAP command areas and boost agroeconomic in Sri Lanka said, Miss. Sharmi Shanmuganathan, Gender Development Officer and Acting Social Safeguarded Officer, Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project, (CSIAP), with an exclusive interview with Tamil National Service of SLBC  on 24th Dec 2020. 

CSIAP is implementing COVID 19/ YALA 2020 Cultivation Programme, Mid-season Cultivation Programme, Maha Season Cultivation Programme, Cluster Village Development programmers, Climate Smart Nutritional Sensitive Home Garden Progaamme, 47 ASC Modernization and Digitalization, Rehabilitation of Agriculture Roads, Construction of Grain Warehouses, Cascade Development through the rehabilitation of minor and medium tanks, Establishment of Farm Field School at Thirappane and CSA Model Villages, She further added. This discussion was broadcasted simultaneously with  Thendral FM and Yaal FM of SLBC too.

Please click to listen to full interview on: Tamil Service at SLBC

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-12-27

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-12-23

The climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project is to improve the productivity and climate resilience of smallholder agriculture through long-term sustainability of irrigation infrastructure development. The infrastructure supported under the project will be identified and designed based on projections of climate change including the frequency of drought and flood events both to maximize the availability of water to farmers and also to protect land and assets from potential flooding. Climate resilience is defined as the capacity of agricultural systems to respond to drought and flood by resisting or tolerating the impacts and recovering quickly, through integration of adaptation, mitigation, and other climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices.

Miss. Sharmi Shanmuganathan, Gender Development Officer and Acting Social Safeguarded Officer, Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project, (CSIAP), talks about CSIAP and its current activities on Tamil National Service, Thendral FM and Yaal FM at 7.30am on 16th Nov 2020.

Please click to listen: Tamil Service at SLBC

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-11-19

Recognizing rural women as ‘farmers’ and as ‘leaders’in adopting climate resilience agriculture technology and practices

 Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income country with total population of 21.8 million of which 77.4% of the population is largely rural.[1] Overall, poverty level of the country is 6.7%, and poverty remains concentrated in rural areas - of the poor, 82 percent are rural residents.[2] While agriculture sector contributes 6.9 percent to GDP, the sector employs approximately 27% of the population, which is mostly rural..[3] While the share of women in agriculture has remained between 30-33% for over two and a half decades[4], women play a key role in agricultural production and processing, both in family and farms outside; though women’s role have been mostly limited to home gardening and small-scale farming activities.

 The World Bank funded “Climate Smart irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)” targets farmers in climatically vulnerable hotpot areas to improve the productivity and resilience of smallholder agriculture activities.  As part of the project’s strategic and operational design, it seeks to address gender gaps and risks in order to empower women as ‘farmers’ and as ‘leaders’ in their communities for adopting climate resilience practices.

During the project preparation and assessment phase, many issues were identified which limits and prevents women from equitably benefiting from and participating in agriculture activities. These issues include: lack of land and asset ownership which limits women’s ability to engage and grow their agricultural production and livelihoods (e.g. in Sri Lanka, only 16 % of all privately-owned land belongs to women)[1], lack of access to climate smart agriculture production technologies and marketing, lack of decision-making power as most of the farmer organizations are led by male farmers, inability to fully participate in agriculture activities due household and care responsibilities, additional requirements to hire labour, difficulties in traveling to agriculture lands which are generally away from residential locations, greater risks of impact from the Human elephant conflict (HEC) as women mostly engage in cultivation work during day time when HEC is most prevalent and impacts linked to domestic abuse/gender based violence with increased consumption of alcohol by men. With all these setbacks for rural women, the current COVID pandemic situation increases their vulnerability affecting household income, food security and nutrition. 

The project has taken multiplicity of actions to ensure the inclusion rural women in project activities. Thus the project has taken measures to:   

1.     reformulate project strategies during COVID19 period to implement several subprojects specially targeting rural women farmers to ensure their food and nutrition security.

2.    assess gender gaps, issues and risks during participatory rural needs assessments and social screening.  

3.    incorporate measures in hot-spot area development plans and social impact management plans to ensure women’s participation and inclusion.

4.    revise beneficiary selection criteria to be inclusive giving priority to women beneficiaries including vulnerable groups (such as women who are living under the poverty level, widows, families with young children and those living with elderly & disable persons)

5.     establish minimum targets for female beneficiaries in project interventions

6.    build capacities of project staff on gender issues and sensitize communities (both males and females) on principals of gender equity in line with the training manual developed.

7.     build capacities of women on climate-resilient agricultural technologies

8.    support to address risks of Human-Elephant conflict

9.    provide support to purchases assets, hire labour and access services (such as credit, childcare facilities, etc.)

10. strengthen links with community-based organizations to receive project implementation support 

11.  implement GBV prevention measures (i.e. Code of Conduct for Communities etc.) and strengthen GRM reporting measures for GBV.

12. increase women's engagement in decision making in Farmer’s Organizations, Producer’s Groups & Social Audit Committees including acting on issues affecting them 

Over 5,500 rural women farmers involved climate resilience agriculture practices

CSIAP strategies that are formulated and are being implemented have generated favorable outcomes for rural women farmers to ensure these groups are benefiting from climate resilience agriculture practices in an equitable manner. Therefore, in addition to increasing participation of women in project activities, the project has exceeded its target of 30% of beneficiaries to be women in all its programs and is also successfully implementing programs targeting 100% women as beneficiaries through its climate smart nutrition sensitive home gardening program. 

By Sharmi Shanmuganathan,
Gender Development Officer and Acting Social Safeguarded Officer, PMU, CSIAP.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-10-17

Mr Sisira Semasinghe,  Agriculture Extension Specialist

The Yala 2020 is designed to promote the Other Field Crops cultivation among the farming community in hot spot areas of the 11 districts of the island said Mr Sisira Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist of Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) with an exclusive interview with Lakhanda News on 11^th August 2020. 

This Yala 2020 covers the area of more than 3,600Ac of OFC (Groundnut, green gram, cowpea, chilli, maize, soya, red onion, kurakkan, sesame and Blake Gram are grown) cultivating lands of the country. Farmers who will be involving with the project have been familiar with the cultivation of OFCs and involving with the cultivation of OFCs for production purposes. The lessons learned by implementing the project in this season will be applied to correct mistakes in the coming seasons. In order to achieve the objectives of the programme,  many strategies have been planned to be implemented by the CSIAP with implementing agencies.

Please click  Lakhanda Newsto listen

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-08-24

Mr Sisira Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist

Women farmers are provided greater access to agriculture expertise, participation in local cultivation planning and decision making under Climate Smart Nutrient Sensitive Home Garden (CSNSHG); they are also provided adequate representation at all levels in relevant planning and decision making addressing the gender gap. CSNSHG is identified as the women farmer-based activity targeting to empower women farmers

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-07-30

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-07-24

Mr. I. H. Dharmasekara, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP is addressing the audience

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-07-23

Symbolically the first harvest was given to the District Secretary

The beginning of groundnut harvesting was held in the Nediyamadu Cluster Village in Batticaloa under the "Field Day" programme on 10th this month under the patronage of Mrs. Kalamathy Pathmarjah, the Government Agent / District Secretary, Batticaloa. The first harvest of groundnuts in the village was presented to the chief guest. Mr. S. Suthakar, Divisional Secretary, Manmunai West and Mrs. Sasikala Punniyamoorthy, Director (Planning), Batticaloa Kachcheri attended as guests of honour.
Continuing the Field Day activities, Mr. K. Vishnukaran, Technical Assistant at SLGAP Division of Department of Agriculture demonstrated how to Cultivate for high yield and how to prevent insects that harm crops. During the event, Mrs. Pathmarajah discussed with farmers about their ongoing issues faced when cultivating and suggested solutions too. 

The Field Day Demonstration

Groundnuts were cultivated in an area of 50 Acres a Nediyamadu village by 50 farm families with the direct support of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) which was funded by the World Bank. Due to a large number of farmers in the village, “Nediyamadu Groundnut Producer Society” was formed and registered under the Department of Agriculture. The project provided everything needed including seeds and technical guidance for successful cultivation. 
Mrs. Sasikala Punniyamoorthy, Director (Planning), Batticaloa District Secretariat, around 60 officers from Manmunai West Divisional Secretariat, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Development, the CSIAP officers  including  Dr. R.M. Ariyadasa, Deputy Project Director, Eastern Province , Mr. Amal Arunapriya , Institutional & Capacity Building Specialist-PMU,  and  50 groundnut farmers were present in this ceremony.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-07-13

Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project implements Yala 200  which is in line with the programme implemented by the  Ministry of Agriculture to overcome possible food shortage that could surface out owing to COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore, this project will be implemented in all climatically vulnerable hot spot areas identified by the project covering 11 districts of the island giving priority for the promotion of Other Food crops (OFC). The total cultivable area expected to cover by the project is 4,029.4 Ac involving with more than 7,074 beneficiaries. The project aims to grow OFC in fields coming under the command area of tanks with adequate water applying climate-smart practices.

Harvesting cowpea  in the field

The COVID -19 pandemic occurred in end 2019 will limit the future food supply of the country owing not only to the limited availability of food items in the export market but also to the unhealthy financial status of the country to import those. Under this circumstance, the Government of Sri Lanka has launched a Saubhagya National Food Production Drive persuading the cultivation of all food crops. Consistent with the AgStat volume XVI (Department of Agriculture, 2019), it was noted that from the total importation of food items, OFC alone utilizes 39.26% of the food import bill. Further, the decision recently taken by the cabinet of ministers to limit imports except pharmaceuticals and petroleum will create a food shortage in the market in the short run.

The number of direct beneficiaries of the sub-project is 7074 farmers in all hot spot areas. Out of which 4882 farmers are male and 2192 are female. No of women headed farmer families involved in the sub-project is 384.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-06-07

Cluster Village Development Programme is designed to increase farmer income, reduce food importation by applying all possible Climate Smart Agriculture practices in 11 hotpots districts.  This programme covers 530 ac with 630 beneficiaries. The Project expenditure is Rs 43.0 million and it has been progressing successfully regardless of the many barriers encountered due to a chaotic situation in the country. The commitment of the officials and the farmers contribute to the success of the project. 

Cluster Village Development Programme is one of four programs launched by Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project in parallel to National Food Production Drive under Saubhagye Dekma   to avoid any future shortage of food supply due to the Covid19 pandemic. 

Benefits to beneficiaries     

·       Training farmers on cultivation to withstand the changing climatic conditions

·       Conducting Farmer Business Training Schools

·       Providing assistance to empower the farmers as agro-entrepreneurs

·       Providing seed and technology transfer

·       Implementing sustainable garden development programs

·       Developing the ecosystems of the village

·       Providing facilities to cultivate in each land

·       Establishing market and agricultural access

·       Establishing village cantered market in the village

·       Establishing processing and packing centres

·       Providing storage facilities for production teams

·       Supplying plastic crates and agricultural implements to pack the farmers' produce

·       Establishing demonstrations of climate smart agricultural practices

·       Evaluating the farmers and create a mechanism to  reward them     

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-06-05

Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project extends its sincere greetings and best wishes to the Sinhala and Tamil community to mark the Sinhala and Hindu New Year in a meaningful and fruitful manner. Currently, we are passing through uncertain and unprecedented period due to Covid 19. We must do the right things and be prepared to take steps beyond what we are typically required to defeat this pandemic. We hope that all Sri Lankans are safe and well during this critical time. We stand with all Sri Lankans and with the world at large in these trying times. We wish for a full recovery for all the infected and we are confident that together we will overcome this new challenging crisis very soon.
This New Year is the national and cultural festival of the people in Sri Lanka. The dawn of New Year is the most powerful cultural festival which unites all Sri Lankans. This is the season where all people enjoy traditional merrymaking. The New Year binds with the traditional customs which blooms interrelations, family relationships and friendships. Let us all get together and join hands in order to strengthen and uplift our country.  Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project wishes you a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous new year. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-04-13

Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP

CSIAP is moving forward to boost the agricultural economy of the country and uplift the living standards of farmers in climatically vulnerable hot spots areas of 11 districts of the country despite a critical situation where the whole country is facing due to the Covid19 pandemic said, Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director, Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) with  excursive interviews with National electronic media.  

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-04-12

Hot Spot Area Agriculture Development Plan (HSAADP) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is currently being reviewed at the Uva Management Development Institute (UMDI), Passara. It has been decided that all the specialists of CSIAP must review the HSAAD plans developed by the consultancy firms to make certain that HSAADPs are well prepared, organized.  

Eng. Nadaraja Sivalingam, Project Director, CSIAP, is explaining the objectives of the HSAADP

The HSAADP is the key instrument of the CSIAP project which would identify necessary interventions to be carried out in Hot spot areas during the period of its implementation based on the HSAADPs developed. It is expected that the HSAADPs will propose productive, economically sound, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable interventions for the respective Hot spot areas assuring the improvement of agriculture livelihood of the community.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) of the CSIAP has organized this two-day training workshop for the specialists and officers of the CSIAP to furnish them with necessary understanding of reviewing the HSAADP with the assistance of experts from the World Bank. Representing the World Bank Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Task Team Leader  of CSIAP and Senior Rural Development Specialist,  Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne, Consultant, Dr. Gamini  Wickramasinghe, Consultant (Social Safeguard) also participated in this event.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-03-06

Dr. Priyantha Weerasinghe, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP,  is conducting the session. Eng.  Nadaraja Sivalingam, Project Director, CSIAP, Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, The World Bank  are also at the main table.

Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) has initiated to launch a cluster village programme in each district where the CSIAP is currently being implemented in pre-determined hotspot areas of eleven districts: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Monaragala, Kilinochchi, Mullativu, Kurunagala, Puttalam, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.

The objective of this programme is to develop cluster villages in hot spot areas where cultivate market driven crops with  climate smart agriculture practices. A special discussion with the World Bank officials and the staff of CSIAP  on the Cluster Village programme were held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 07 recently.
Specific objectives of the cluster village programme

1.     Establishing 11 climate smart production villages.

2.    Modifying 47 Agriculture Service Centers to function as efficient and effective one - stop Service Centers.

3.    Renovating water bodies in 11 selected villages.

4.    Establishing Haritha Uyan.

5.     Appraising and rewarding 11 farmers for establishing best Climate Smart Agriculture practices in each village.

6.    Training 110 selected farmers of 11 villages on entrepreneurship development by Farmer Business School methodology.

7.     Forming 22 Producer Groups in 11 villages and enhancing the leadership and management skills of the leaders of the producer groups.

8.    Introducing 11 potential market linkage avenues to the farmers through the producer groups.

9.    Promoting 5 water saving techniques and rain water harvesting method among farmers within the yala season.

10. Establishing 22 market driven CSA crops in 11 selected villages during Yala and Maha seasons of 2020.

Activities

    1.     Identifying marketing opportunities.

    2.    Identifying suitable crops and lands. Crops will be identified according to the supply and demand. Major crops cultivated in the village (supply driven) and crops which have the market (market driven) are selected.

   3.    Developing water resources and other related infrastructure.  

   4.    Selecting suitable farmers. 50 farmers from each village will be selected.

5. Forming Producer Groups/societies. Crop based Producer Groups will be formed in each village.6. Linking farmers with the market 7. Providing training for farmers and conducting Farm Business Schools. Farmers will be trained on CSA interventions & value addition.8. Supply of inputs and technology transfer. 9. Establishing crops in the fields of farmers in each village.10.Eco system development will be setup under Haritha Uyan.
11.Providing facilities for marketing (Market access roads, village fairs, processing centres, pack houses, stores will be provided for producer groups. Plastic crates and equipment required for value addition will be provided for individual farmers).12.Evaluating farmers and developing a mechanism to reward them.

Representing the World Bank Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Task Team Leader  of CSIAP and Senior Rural Development Specialist,  Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne, Consultant, and Mr.V.Mohamed Ameen, Consultant (Financial Management) also participated in this event.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-02-12

All three services of Si Lanka Broadcasting Corporation broadcasted the news of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and its objectives in Sinhalese, Tamil and English.

Please click to listen: SLBC Sinhala service,  SLBC Tamil Service and  SLBC English Service

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-01-24

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-01-23

Mr. W. G. Gnanadasa, Senior Engineer and Mr. Sisira Semasinghe, Agriculture Extension Specialist of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) were on Saaratha Bahagira Live Radio Programme of SLBC on 07th Jan 2020 to talk about CSIAP and its objectives.

Please click to listen: Saaratha Bahagira on YouTube or  Saaratha Bahagira on Facebook
The main economic project benefits are expected to come from (a) increases in the area under production and crop productivity through improved irrigations systems and farmers’ adoption of climate-resilient technologies; (b) diversification from food grains into climate-adaptive, higher-value agriculture; and (c) improved postharvest management, value addition, and marketing. In addition to the increases in productivity and production of higher-value crops, it is expected that establishing PGs and facilitating private sector links will lead to increased incomes of beneficiaries due to (a) higher prices for the agricultural produce through better aggregation and new market channels, also resulting from improved market information; (b) potentially reduced input prices resulting from procurement by the PGs in bulk; and (c) increased value addition through CSCs established by the PGs for postharvest activities, including aggregation, cleaning, grading, sorting, and processing.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-01-22

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-01-19

Representing the World Bank, Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne, Consultant, and Mr.V.Mohamed Ameen, Consultant (Financial Management) attended a special meeting, which was organized to discuss the Hot-Spot Area Agriculture Development Plan (HSAADP) and way forward activities in 2020 at the Provincial Deputy Director Office (Uva) in Monaragala recently. This meeting was chaired by Mr. I.H. Dharmasekara, Deputy Project Director (Uva Province). Staff of each discipline working for Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) were also present.

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-01-19

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-01-19

The Retreat, which was held at International Kotmale Institute of Irrigation and Water Management last week, had been purely organized for the benefit of Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and this two-day residential programme was scheduled to reorganize and reorient if necessary, to meet the challenges in 2020. 
CSIAP completed nearly one year in operation at the end of year 2019. The project at present has established its all Provincial offices and also recruited almost all the staff including specialists in different disciplines. At the dawn of year 2020, the CSIAP was in the view of organizing a re-treat to self-examine its performances during the past year and will look way forward in year 2020.

Project Director Eng. Nadaraja Sivalingam is welcoming participants. World Bank officials  Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan and Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne were also present.

Senior officials of the Project Management Team (PMU) and  Provincial Deputy Director Offices of CSIAP attended this retreat. Representing World Bank Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Task Team Leader  of CSIAP and Senior Rural Development Specialist, Mr. Sarath Wickramarathne, Consultant, and Mr.V.Mohamed Ameen, Consultant (Financial Management) also participated in this event. 

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date :2020-01-13

The staff of  the Project Management Unit (PMU), Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture  Project celebrate new year 2020

Posted by CSIAP Sri Lanka Read full blog article Read full web article Published Date : 2020-01-01