|
Activity |
Details |
Results (As at Project Completion) |
|
1 |
Conduct a baseline survey of the identified
locations in the 3 districts |
To
collect information on present agro-socio-economic
situation of the project areas, Select farmers for
establishing agriculture centers, Identify the
skills and capabilities of relevant officials for
training, identify saline contaminated wells for
construction of recharging systems. |
The survey was conducted of
households with RWH tanks to obtain information on
social and economic status.
167 households in Galle, 210
households in Matara and 235 households in Ampara
district were surveyed. In addition, general
information of GN divisions were collected. The
survey team observed and selected 22 contaminated
wells in Habaraduwa and Weligama and 11 in Potuvil
and Ampara. |
|
2 |
Training of farmers selected |
Farmers selected will be trained on establishment of
agriculture centers. |
Two training and awareness programmes were
conducted for 16 nursery farmers in Weligama,
Habaraduwa & Pottuvil. The areas covered
included nursery management, drip irrigation
techniques, budding and grafting, book keeping and
on pest and disease management.
Training on nursery management was conducted by
Agriculture Instruction officers. Training on Drip
Irrigation methods was conducted by experts from Rajarata University. |
|
3 |
Establishment of agricultural (Nursery) centers |
16
agriculture centers equip with planting materials
will be establishes in the 3 districts. |
16
nursery centers were established ( in each selected
GN division) and maintained properly. There are 6
nursery centers in Matara, 5 in Galle and 5 in
Pottuvil.
Each nursery farmer was given a net house, a store
house, a set of necessary tools, agro-chemicals and
planting materials. All planting material,
seeds in nursery centers are prepared to a standards
set by LRWHF. The prices of seedlings are decided by
LRWHF and given with subsidiary rates for society
members of the households. 50% of the price of every
item sold by the nursery centers will be collected
to set up an endowment fund for the societies.
A
name board was also established in each nursery
center.
The average income per annum per
nursery farmer is Rs. 11,200/=. This shows the
sustainability of marketing channel of nurseries,
while major customers of nursery farmers were
project beneficiaries.
More than
36.5% beneficiaries of whole project areas
bought their planting material only from 16 nursery
centers established by the project.
|
|
4 |
Awareness programs |
In
each selected GND, awareness programs will be
conducted to introduce the technologies and
practices to beneficiaries. |
Several awareness programmes were conducted in each village
for the beneficiaries to introduce the concept
and technology of home gardening and water
conservation methods. Beneficiaries from the
southern districts were taken to visit a model home
garden center at Battaththa. |
|
5 |
Setting up of committees |
Home
gardening committees will be set up in each GND |
Home gardening societies were formed in each GN
Division and Committees were appointed which
consists of a chairman, the secretary and the
treasurer.
There are 11 societies consisting of a committee in
Galle and Matara and 5 in Ampara districts. |
|
6 |
Establishing of Home Gardens and
Training of households |
Households in each committee will be trained on
planting, soil conservation, water conservation
through use of drip irrigation kits and other
methods. |
612
home gardens were set up in the 3 districts as 167
in Galle, 210 in Matara and 235 in Pottuvil.
Several seedlings of perennial plants
(Banana, pomegranate, guava and Ambarella) and a set
of home gardening tools were given to the members of
those societies. Plant materials and seed were sold
to committee members with subsidiary rates by
nursery centers.
Beneficiaries were trained on home
gardening practices, compost preparation and pest
and disease management by experts of universities
and Department of Agriculture.
Nearly 73% of beneficiaries of whole
project areas had earned or saved more than Rs.
500/= per month from selling their excess home
garden products after fulfilling the family food
requirements or reduced spending on fruits and
vegetables by using the product from their home
garden.
More than 90% of beneficiaries had
used fresh vegetables and fruits produced from their
home gardens thus providing a better nutrition level
for their family.
Compost was used as fertilizer by
75.5% beneficiaries and 42% beneficiaries used
organic pesticides like garlic
mixture, neem mixture, soap water solution and ash
solution.
The main cause for higher usage of
compost and organic pesticides is the higher
effectiveness of training and awareness program of
the project.
|
|
7 |
Networking |
The
project will be implemented with the assistance and
collaboration of National Water Supply and Drainage
Board (NWS&DB) Department of Agriculture, University
of Rajarata and Ruhuna with Agrarian Service Centers,
Samurdhi Niyamakas and other relevant government
representatives in the area. |
Relevant officials in the area such as NWS&DB staff,
Agriculture Department and Divisional Secretaries of
the area as well as other organizations working in
the area are kept informed of the activities of the
project. These officials participated in some site
visits, programs and ceremonies of the project to
encourage beneficiaries. |
|
8 |
Training of officials |
Training will be given on areas of identified gaps
to build the skills and capacities of relevant staff
in these institutes. |
Officials of the Department of Agriculture in the
Southern districts were trained. |
|
9 |
Construction of recharging system |
A
suitable recharging system will be constructed near
each well with the assistance of nearby households. |
Recharging systems were installed for 30 private
wells in both Galle and Matara districts and 4
common wells in Weligama, Denuwala and Pelena. 20
recharging systems were installed for private wells
in Pottuvil. |
|
10 |
Research on low cost rain water harvesting tanks |
Several low cost rain water harvesting tanks models
will be pilot tested to be introduced to households
which does not have a rain water harvesting tank. |
Designs were being identified and implemented. |
|
11 |
Monitoring and evaluation |
Project will be monitored closely through the
network of collaborators and internally through
monthly staff meeting. |
Monthly monitoring meeting and site visits were
conducted with project staff to discuss issues and
progress of project activities. Progress of each
nursery center and their issues while cultivating
especially regarding the pest and disease problems
was monitored and discussed by an Agriculture
Instructor every month.
Each home gardens and
nursery centers were monitored regularly at the end
of the project.
The wells which connected to recharging systems were
motored daily on water quality and quantity
parameter.
A
competition was held among beneficiaries to select
the best home gardens in each GN divisions of Galle,
Matara and Potuvil districts. 3 home gardens were
selected in each GN division by judging team
according to a set of criteria. Also 3 nursery
centers were selected in southern area and 2 were
selected in eastern area. Prizes and certificates
were distributed.
Click here for
a list of winners. |
