Farmers in Kurunegala Trained on Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management

A one-day training program on “Planning Family Agriculture Environment Production Systems and Water Management” was successfully held on August 21, 2025 – at the residence of Mr. H.M. Senarath in Divulgane, Ehetuwewa DS Division, Kurunegala District. The event was organized under the project Integrated Resources Management of Water and Ecosystem in Kurunegala District, supported by Federation Genevoise De Cooperation implemented   the Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum (LRWHF) in collaboration with International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance and local partners.

The program brought together 17 local farmers (five men and twelve women) and eight field officers representing the Divisional Secretariat, including Grama Niladhari officers, development officers, agricultural assistants, and LRWHF staff.

Led by resource person Dr. Kamal Melvani, of Neo Synthesis Research Center, the training combined presentations, group work, and field visits, offering participants both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. The morning sessions focused on farm design and land use planning, while the afternoon included visits to four farms where participants developed practical maps and management plans.

Key areas covered included:

• Designing farm landscapes and identifying water sources.
• Calculating family needs for food, timber, fuel, and medicinal plants, with an emphasis on surplus marketing.
• Managing seasonal changes such as monsoon rains, floods, and droughts.
• Using biodiversity services like pollination, pest control, and soil enrichment.
• Introducing buffer zones and live fencing with local tree species to protect crops from wild animals.
• Soil conservation, bio-treatment of saline wells, and sustainable crop selection.
• Developing farm ponds (pathaha) to conserve water and support plant and aquatic life.

Through group exercises, farmers created farm maps and management plans, which were later presented to peers. These exercises highlighted strategies for drainage, fencing, crop diversification, and integrating animal husbandry into farm systems.

Outcomes and feedback:

Participants reported a stronger understanding of sustainable land management and expressed appreciation for the practical field sessions. Both farmers and officers agreed to establish pilot model plots in selected villages to demonstrate regenerative farming practices. Requests were made for follow-up training, particularly on land use mapping and farm planning for dry zone conditions, including strategies to mitigate crop damage by wild animals.

The training concluded with optimism that the knowledge shared would improve productivity, strengthen farmer–officer collaboration, and promote climate-resilient, eco-friendly agriculture in the Ehetuwewa DS Division.