Our Experience with Indigenous Paddy (Organic) Cultivation Using System of Rice Intensification (SRI) World Vision Lanka Monaragala District Thanamalwila AGA Division

“ Batha Bulathin Saru Wu Wellasse Diriya Daruwo”

Past Context Wellasse (Hundred Thousand Paddy Fields) Present Context Fields overgrown with forest & Agricultural Context Upland (unirrigated) agriculture using the rains of the North East monsoon shrubs

Sustainable Wellassa Modern Techniques SRI Concept Organic Approach Past Wellassa Area Context Rain Water Harvesting Ponds Value Addition Social Mobilization Indigenous Paddy Indigenous Practices

SRI Concept

Organic Approach

Rain Water Harvesting

Ponds

Social Mobilization

Indigenous Paddy

Indigenous Practices

Table 1: No. of Acres Grown and No. of Farmers Involved in SRI Rice Production (Maha 2006 & Maha 2007 ) District Location/DS Division No. of acres grown Number of farmers involved Variety of seed paddy used Duration of variety used (months) Monaragala Thanamalwila 11 24 Suwadal 2/½ 6 9 Madathawalu 3/½ 9 15 Kuruluthuda 3 6 12 Kaluhinati 3/½ 5.75 10 Pachcha Perumal 3/½

Table 3: Farm Size of SRI – Maha 2007/08 Farm size (acres) Number of SRI farmers Total number of acres grown Productivity of paddy (Kgs/acre) Total production (MT) < 0.25 - 0.25-0.5 14 3.5 0.5 - 1 29 14.5 1-2 11 11.75 2 < - 29.75 45.815

Value Addition Social Mobilization – - Activating the latent potential of the people by facilitating and forming self-help groups which are responsible for their own development of culture, education, economy, etc. - Empowering civil society in order to achieve sustainable development

Advantages - Empowered people carry on the project from one generation to another generation - Empowered communities gain maximum benefits from the intervention

500 Rain Water Harvest Ponds 3/10-acre capacity and 5 to15 feet depth, 500 rainwater harvesting ponds constructed within 3 years

Advantages- - Irrigation water with use of fertilizers and agrochemicals has contaminated water, but this water is pure & has natural value - Small independent irrigation pond is formed within the farmer’s land. Pond Paddy Field Integrated Farm is designed within the farmer’s land

Approach to Thanamalwila 1 st Step- Arousing the dignity of the Wellassa people by preparing self-sufficiency of Wellassa area (through addressing social problems) 2 nd step - Awareness programs on Indigenous Traditional cultivation, without highlighting the word “SRI” 3 rd Step - Field visit to “Thangalu Welyaya” with the present community 4 th Step- Train 15 Farmers for the Pilot Project 5 th Step - Evaluation of the Pilot Project & start the “Maha” season with 200 farmers 6 th Step - Marketing initiatives