Gender Focus
Both men and women in the Katuwewa village participate equally in the project activities. It will help the women who were previously not directly involved in earning to contribute to the family's income. The women are also engaged in sales of value added goods, giving them the opportunity and experience in maintaining a business. The men no longer have to single handedly earn for the family and have additional means of earning money (through value added goods). This in turn provides a platform for equality among the villagers.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
Information on the production of the value added goods and model farm will be collected and analysed. Based on its success it will be upscaled to other villages. At present the NGO head shares information related to cultivation with several project grantees.
Linkages gef projects
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Planning gef grant
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Planning non gef grant
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Policy Influence
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Replication of project activities
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Project sustainability
Rainwater harvesting in ponds and the village tank improved water security in small agricultural farms of this dry zone village as the stored water helped re-charge groundwater sources. The increase in water sources assisted the poverty-stricken community to improve their livelihood conditions significantly and become more resilient to adverse effects of climate change.
Good water management practices at household and community levels, especially careful use of tank water ensures the sustainability of the project.
The organic model farm provides a means for the beneficiaries to work and earn a livelihood, and the training school will continue to provide various trainings on organic farming and alternative livelihood options.
Capacity - Building Component
The grantee will require help in terms of technical input, especially concerning the use of solar ovens for banana chip production, marketing strategies as well as registration of value added goods.
Policy Impact
The project aims to create an exemplary "green village" which would allow government support for rural villages to develop through environmentally friendly strategies.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project aims to create awareness through recognition by local government and media. In addition the sales of value added goods in urban exhibitions also promotes awareness on the project.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project allows beneficiaries to create value added goods such as jams, pickles, packeted rations, herbal balms, shampoos and dried banana chips.
Project Results
16 small rainwater ponds were constructed within home gardens of selected beneficiaries. The total water retention capacity of these ponds was 556,487 cubic feet and the individual pond capacity varied between 12,000 and 84,000 cubic feet. The retained pond water was utilized for cultivating both paddy and other crops. These activities has improved the water security in the small agricultural farms of this dry-zone village.
The carrying capacity of the village tank was increased from 4 acre feet to 22 acre feet. The tank bed was excavated, the tank bund was filled and the spillway was constructed. The bund was turfed to avoid surface run off of water. The community provided labour for construction activities while technical assistance was obtained from the Divisional Secretariat. The cultivation area utilizing the tank water increased from 15 to over 42 acres.
Training was provided on organic farming, soil conservation measures, cultivating drought resistant crop varieties, making products for sale such as herbal shampoo and medicinal products, as well as improving family food security and micro financing. Micro-credit ventures were introduced to female members. Drought resistant seeds including three traditional rice varieties, ?Kotabaru, Heenati and Kuruluthuda?, vegetables and fruit trees were distributed with successful harvesting of produce.
The Sewanagala Divisional Secretariat allocated a land area of 5 acres to the project for a model farm. An organic model farming training centre is being established on the premises.
A total of 35 families has benefitted directly from this project.
