Institution: Wellasse, World Vision Lanka Monaragala District Thanamalwila AGA Division Subject Country: SriLanka

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

3. “ Batha Bulathin Saru Wu Wellasse Diriya Daruwo”

4. 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

7. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

13. 500 Rain Water Harvest Ponds 3/10-acre capacity and 5 to15 feet depth, 500 rainwater harvesting ponds constructed within 3 years

15. 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

16. 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