A key component of the Dumbara Green Empowerment Project is climate-resilient, sustainable land and water management, or the maintenance of improved land and water management in the upper catchment and lower valley farmlands to protect agricultural production from the adverse effects of climate change, and the efficient use of agricultural machinery is a priority. Before initiating appropriate activities in the Anuradhapura District, which falls within the project area, there was a need to identify a more appropriate methodology.
Also, in line with these components, the most appropriate active pilot project was identified to identify effective regulations to increase the yield of irrigated paddy cultivation in the lower valley farmlands, through the “Nachchaduwa Farmland Integration Project” implemented by the Irrigation Management Division of the Ministry of Irrigation. Based on the results obtained from this pilot study project implemented in Nachchaduwa, transformative results were observed in terms of increasing the yield of paddy cultivation in the upper watersheds and large farmlands in the lower valleys, making the use of machinery more efficient, and maintaining proper water management.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Mr. Lal Kantha, and the Anuradhapura District Parliamentarian, Mr. Susantha Kumara, also joined the field inspection in Pitalaya to increase the intensity of cultivation and land productivity by consolidating these farm lands. After the field inspection, a follow-up discussion was held with the participation of the Minister, consisting of various heads of departments and representatives of farmer organizations who contributed to the success of the farm land consolidation project.
At that time, all parties presented their views on the success achieved by this project and representatives of farmer organizations explained to the council how their harvest had increased rapidly.
After the views of those parties, Minister Lal Kantha, who addressed the council, stated that, in view of the multifaceted progress made by the Farm Land Consolidation Project, it should not only be used to achieve the objectives of the Knuckles Project but also be introduced to the country as the second agricultural revolution in the entire country.
During the implementation of the Farm Land Consolidation Project, the then Director of the Irrigation Management Division, the current Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation and the National Project Director of the Knuckles Project, Mrs. Chandika V. Athugala, as well as heads of state institutions, the Project Staff of the Knuckles Project, and heads of farmer organizations participated in this event.