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PROJECTS |
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Rainwater harvesting for
Small Holder Crop Production |
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Project Area |
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Kurundamkulama, Mihintale in
Anuradhapura District |
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Duration |
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April 2003 to July
2004 |
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Funded
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Centre
for
Poverty
Elevation (CEPA) |
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Objective |
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To examine the
effectiveness of rain water
harvesting methods and conservation
in crop production |
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Background of the Project |
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Nearly
80% of the households in the Dry
Zone derive their incomes mainly
from agriculture. Poverty is
widespread mainly in the Dry Zone of
Sri Lanka. For example in
Anuradhpura district, around 50% of
the households are below poverty
level ie. below a monthly income of
Rs.1500/-. |
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Crop
production is the main source of
income of nearly 80% of the people
living in these areas. Hence
successful crop production
determines to a great extent their
poverty level and depends on the
efficient use of available water and
some other factors. Mainly during
Yala season the rainfall is less and
available water for cultivation of
crops during this period is
inadequate. |
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From the total
rainfall around 25% of rain water is
lost in the form of surface run-off
and conserving this water will not
only promote crop growth in areas
where water is limiting, but will
also reduce soil erosion. |
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Among various methods
of storing of water harvesting and conservation, the most common
and economical method is storing of water in surface tanks.
Therefore, it is vital to conduct a study on how harvested
rainwater in low cost surface runoff tanks will be used to
improve the income level of households living in the dry zone
area of Sri Lanka. |
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Project
findings and Outcome |
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In the dry zone
during the months of February, March, July and
August farmers are unable to cultivate crops due
to lack of rain. |
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However during the rainy period (
Maha) these areas receive approximately 710mm
of rain fall. More than 40% of this rain fall is
lost as run off, which amounts to 1150 m3
from an acre of land. If a proportion of this
water can be collected and retained in the home
gardens it can be used to irrigate crop during
the dry season. |
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5 m3 rain water run
off tank constructed at the bottom of the garden
at Kurundamkulama, Mihintale collected an
average volume of 5426 litres from Maha season
rain fall of 537 mm. Farmers were able to
cultivate crops such as Chilies , Brinjal,
Maize, Cowpea, Capsicum and thereby increase
their income by 200% from last years Maha
season. |
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Rain fall of
460
mm in the Yala season collected on an average
5055 litres of water in the tanks and the
farmers were able to cultivate gourds, “
Thibbatu”, Papaya as well as keep the annual
plants from drying up. |
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Photo Gallery |
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Land before
Intervention |
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Run off Rain water
tank |
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Maha 2003 Cultivated
land |
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Yala 2004 Cultivation |
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