Achievements

Identification of drought prone agro-ecological regions of Sri Lanka

Moisture Availability Index (MAI) was used to identify drought severity in each AER. Months having MAI values less than or equal to 0.33 were considered as dry months and not suited for rainfed agriculture. Monthly MAI values were calculated using monthly DRF and PET data of 140 locations.
This classification assumes that soil moisture storage is adequate to supply water requirement of crops for three weeks or more and short drought periods are of lesser importance. The Yala season is consisting of six months from March to August while six months from September to February is considered as the Maha season.

TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION

Following trainings/seminars were conducted during the year of 2006

• Twenty-one island wide seminars on impact of climate change on agriculture sector for government, non-government officers, teachers and students.
• Two trainings on climate and agro-ecological regions for school teachers in collaboration with the National Institute of Education.
• Two trainings on drought and floods in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture.
• One-day seminar on world water day in collaboration with CAPNET-Lanka.
• One five-day training on natural resource management in the Dry Zone for officers of North Central Province at Maha Illuppallama.
• Ten one-day trainings on soil conservation in fruit crop production for farmers in Matale, Kandy and Moneragala Districts.
• Seven two-day trainings on watershed management for 280 technical officers of the Wayamba Province.
• One two-day training on soil conservation and watershed management for 40 technical officers of the Department of Export Agriculture at Matale.
• Two, two-day trainings on development of medium and large scale lands into commercial farms in collaboration with Agro-Enterprises Development and Information Service for 80 medium and small scale farmers at In-service Training Institute, Gannoruwa
• One two-day training on agro-climatic zones and soil and water conservation for 50 officers in Hasalaka.
• Two one-day seminars on climate change for 200 school students at Mahamaya College, Kandy and 50 technical officers of the Central Province at Plant Genetic Resources Center, Gannoruwa.
• One-day training on soil conservation for 40 technical officers on March 2006 at Wagolla Training Centre, Kegalle.
• Six one day trainings for officers of the NWP on natural resource management.

The Centre provided resource persons for following activities.

• Six one-day awareness sessions on soil conservation for estate workers, 50 each, at selected estates in the Kandy district organized by PLAN Sri Lanka, Kandy.
• Fourteen one-day awareness sessions on soil conservation for school students organized by Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka
• Twelve one-day quiz competitions on soil conservation and environmental conservation for school students organized by Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka
• One one-day awareness sessions on soil conservation for 40 farmers organized by Forest Department
• Two one-day awareness sessions on soil conservation for school students 200 each organized by Forest department.
• Three one-day awareness sessions on soil conservation for farmers organized by Ududumbara Pradeshiya Shaba.

Demonstrations on soil and water conservation

• Soil conservation demonstration

This demonstration established in 2004 at Agriculture Technology Park, Gannoruwa was maintained. New development and maintenance work included planting of fruit and timber trees, establishment of jasmine, vegetables, OFCs and leafy vegetables. Total of 10,000 people visited the site. Majority were school students and farmers.

Three new demonstrations were established at the Angunakolapellessa Research Farm, Kundasale Agriculture School and Sita Eliya Research Farm. Terraces, lock and spill drains, stone bunds and earth bunds were laid as conservation measures in these demonstrations. Various structures meant for conserving gullies were also established.

• Demonstration on watershed based soil conservation in farmer field
This demonstration initiated in 2004 with the aim of educating technical officers and farmers on the importance of adopting soil conservation measures at watershed level. Farmers cultivating a total extent of 65 ha land under with vegetables, have adopted appropriate technology in the Dambawa, Selagama, Walmoruwa and Udurampelessa villages in the Matale District. In 2006, new developments included establishment of lock and spill drains and stone bunds in an extent of 16 and 14 ha, respectively. Financial assistance was given to farmers to adopt these technologies under the Regional Economic Advancement Project in the Matale District. A field day was conducted in collaboration with the Plant Protection Service of DOA for field officers in the Matale District.

Exhibitions on soil and water conservation

• The Centre provided resource persons and exhibits for 3 one-day school exhibitions on soil conservation conducted at St. Joseph Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalla; Sangamitta Balika Vidyalaya, Matale and Maliyadeva Adarsha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala.

Radio programs

• Resource persons were provided for 2 SUBHARATHI, 4 ASWENNA and 3 SURAKIMU MIHIMADALA programs on soil and environmental conservation conducted by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

Development activities

• Soil conservation in farmer lands in peripheral areas of dry zone forest

The project funded by the Sri Lanka Australia Natural Resources Management Project in the Matale District, was carried out with the aim of improving productivity of farm land through introduction of soil conservation technologies without subsidies. Soil conservation technologies were introduced to 29 plots of farmers. Of the selected farmers, 7 farmers adopted the technologies at their own expense without obtaining subsidies. Adoption rate was nearly 25%.

• Primary water source conservation in the Matale District

Seven micro catchments in Matale District were selected and farmers were given required technical guidance to adopt soil and water conservation measures. Farmers who adopted the technology according to given instructions were paid on the basis of DOA standard rates. Off-farm activities in these catchments were also carried out through community based organizations by providing financial assistance to meet the real cost of the activity. The project was funded by the Regional Economic Advancement Project (REAP), Matale.

• Improvement of productivity in selected farming lands in Matale district

A program on productivity improvement of farmlands through introduction of appropriate cropping technologies was carried out in Dambawa, Selagama, Walmoruwa and Udurampelessa villages in the Matale District with funds from the REAP. Planting materials and technical guidance were given to farmers. A field day was conducted in order to disseminate the technology to other farmers in surrounding villages.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

The Centre provided the following technical assistance during the year.
• Mapping of potential areas for identified priority crops (Rambutan, Papaw, Pineapple, mango, banana, grapes, pomegranate, jack-fruit, durian, beli, mangoosteen and pears) under the Crop Zoning Project. Maps depict potential areas for the selected fruit crops under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The relevant Divisional Secretariat divisions were also indicated in the maps.
• Preparation of maps showing the annual extents under paddy, other field crops, vegetables and fruits based on the Census and Statistics Department data for ‘Ag-Stat’, the booklet, published by the Socio Economic and Planning Centre, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya.
• Preparation of soil conservation plan for exhibition site at Agriculture School at Angunakolapelessa
• Preparation of soil conservation and storm water drainage management plans for various land- blocking out projects.
• Preparation of land development and storm water management guidelines for Upper Kothmale Hydropower Project Contractor's asphalt plant site at Hatton.
• Preparation of cut slope protection guidelines for Southern Highway Development Project, Ministry of Highways, Colombo.
• Preparation of land development plan for the premises of the Ranawana Raja Maha Vihara, Kiribathkumbura.
• Designing a hose irrigation system to Udaradella farm, Dept of Agriculture.
• Designing and assisting to make the rainwater harvesting system at Agriculture School Angunukolapelessa.
• Provided advisory support to “Eth Athuru Sevena” to prepare an irrigated grass cultivation and tender evaluation of pressure of an Irrigation system to “ Eth Athuru Sevena”, at UdaWalave.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Work on the new amendment to the Soil Conservation Act was continued. A workshop to discuss the draft regulations was conducted on 19 October 2006 at the In-service Training Centre at Gannoruwa with 32 resource persons. A program on awareness creation on Soil Conservation Act was conducted in Matale, Rathnapura, Kegalla and Kandy Districts for 209 government officers. Twenty-nine awareness sessions were conducted in Agrarian Development Centres in Kandy and Matale Districts for 462 field officers from government institutions and 378 farmers.

• The Centre continued to maintain the database on agro-climate, land and water resources.

• Agro meteorological observation network of the island was maintained and data included into the central database.

• Hundred soil albums of 15 major soil groups were prepared in collaboration with the DOA Extension and Education Division for the Department of Education.

• NRMC staff represented the DOA in the Environmental Monitoring Committees of National Environmental Authority for Upper Kothmale Hydropower Project and 3 housing projects, Committees for granting Environmental Clearance for various projects, Environmental Council Meetings, Central Environmental Authority, Ministry of Environment in Colombo, Water management panel meeting of Mahaweli Ministry, Technical subcommittee of environment, Moragahakanda Agriculture Development project, Technical subcommittee of environment, Kaluganga (Pallegama) Agriculture Development project.