Modern food supply chain is highly dependent on improved commercial varieties and genetically modified varieties. Unfortunately most of these types are under risk of having health hazards for humans and also increase cost of production or need high levels of inputs. In fact we think the improved crops are high yielding; it’s not true, because, most of the improved varieties can be considered as high responsive crops. That means the output produced are highly dependent on the input supply. In other words, the short varieties do not have enough capacity to produce high yield, but it can convert the fertilizer we applied in to the harvest. (E.g. Three month rice variety has to provide basal dressing and 3 top dressing applications of N, P, and K). This conversion will not be able to produce healthy, strong and nutritive product, but it just produces a big volume.

The main objective of the project is to protect and promote traditional food crops to increasing bio diversity. To realize that  Weligepola Kantha Maha Sangamaya move towards the method of in-situ conservation of traditional varieties and follows strategies to promote economic opportunities, empowering the poor, and enhancing social security to alleviate poverty and also to provide better health and nutrition particularly for low-income households in weligepola DS division.

There are 100 farmers engaged with the project and nearly 100 acres of land area was used to cultivate traditional food crops. Community participation is about 75% which includes land, labour, capital, management and their motivation. Financial supports, technological involvement and coordination of community groups done by organization. The low-country (plains) vegetables, which include Brinjal, Bitter Gourd, Pumpkin, Luffa, Cucumber and Snake Gourd And Cereals, such as Maize, Green Grams, Black Grams, Cowpea, Millet and Peanuts, and Chilies which are cultivated less intensively under low input systems. There are several traditions of seed conservation practices within the community including use of different types of shells for storing, exposure to smoke, stored with Neem leaves and store as pods or dried fruits according to the type of seed. Seed exchange among communities and commercial level seed marketing are main promotional and protection strategies for traditional seeds.

Constructed 20 rainwater harvesting tanks, three open rainwater harvesting ponds called “Pathaha” and nine deep aquifers to reduce water scarcity in drought season. In rainy season, heavy soil erosion exists due to heavy rains and due to wind in drought. So, soil fertility degradation is very high in the area. So, farmers were trained to practice soil conservation measures such as live fences, use of coconut husks, mulching, constructing bund and terraces and using cover crops. Production of compost and other types of organic fertilizers like wormi-compost and liquid compost help to increase the soil fertility and crop production. It also reduces the cost of inputs and provide health benefits directly.

To achieve the main objectives of the project, strategies are setup with several co-activities, because there was a need to change attitudes, behaviours and lifestyles of farmers to cultivate traditional varieties of food crops instead of growing improved varieties. Establishment of community driven small groups and introducing revolving funds mechanisms to them lead to uplift the living status. Seed exchange mechanism setup to get back double the quantity at the end of the consecutive season. Community level seed exchange programmes and practicing of crop rotating, entrust the in-situ conservation in much more meaningful manner. The kitchen management programme along with this project provide extra advantage to change their behaviors and to reduce their food and firewood expenses. Rain water harvesting using tanks and ponds enable the cultivation even in drought season. Such infrastructure developments sustains the cultivation practices for long time.

Badrakanthi, M.R.
Ekabadda Praja Sanwardana kantha maha sangamaya-Weligepola,Balangoda

Masmulla forest area of 863 hectares, situated in Matara District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka is faced to few threats. These threats were correctly noticed by WTSS and searched for a solution with the help of FD. Traditional basket weaving industry (Kulu watti Products) is spread in surrounding villages adjoined to Masmulla forest for about 400 years. About 500 families are involving in this industry. The raw materials (bata, ochlanda stridual and Inipetta, Yathociyx Zeylanica) are harvested from the forest. Due to over exploitation of these raw materials their only source of income generation have come to a stand still. Therefore it came apparent they tended to look for illegal timber felling and clearing the forest for Chena cultivation as a way of living.

WTSS a pioneer environmental organization in Sri Lanka understood this situation and took keen interest in solving this problem with the help of forest officers. Organized villages adjoined to the forest and introduced the basket craftsmen a legal permit system issued by FD and supplied enough raw materials (bata) easily from close by forests where there are plenty of raw materials. Trained the villagers to get the harvest in sustainable manner. Improved their livelihood introducing modern varieties through skill development and encouraged for good marketing opportunities locally and abroad. Gradually they were compelled to stop illegal timber fellings and other offences.

Communities from 04 adjoined villages to Masmulla forest have fallen to alternative livelihood means abstaining from timber fellings. Encroachment into the forest have been stopped. Community groups have formed an information and activity service where some illegal action harmful to forest is happening immediately given the massage to the chairperson who will then inform BFO/ RFO have been minimized due to this  way of activities. Replanting in buffer zone and inside the forest also has taken place. Parallaly home gardening was improved.

Bata craftsmens’ local society have developed a monitoring fund out of their income and use this money for buying new raw materials. All the work done by the project is willingly undertaken by community in future.

Five out of seven species of endangered sea turtles nest in Sri Lanka including Critically endangered Leatherback turtles and Hawksbill turtles. Destruction of the coastal ecosystems by coastal communities is a substantial problem in Sri Lanka.  Coastal communities have to depend on their surrounding natural resources for survival.  As a result, very important coastal habitats and coastal fauna such as the coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves, marine turtles and other coastal vegetation are under serious threat of extinction.

The Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) established in 1993 with the aim of protecting marine turtle conservation realized the chain connection between the coastal communities and coastal resources, which heavily depend on each other.  As a solution, TCP has developed an innovative concept which is referred as the ‘Community Based Ecosystem Conservation Approach’ (CBECA) to address the problems described.

Community of Rekawa (a small fishing village located in southern Sri Lanka), was heavily exploiting marine and coastal resources due to poverty and lack of awareness. TCP has implemented an innovative concept which is referred as the ‘Community Based Ecosystem Conservation Approach’ (CBECA) in the conservation of marine and coastal resources and poverty alleviation, a multi-pronged approach with seven main components: 1). community livelihood development, 2). community infrastructure development, 3). environmental restoration and management, 4). community awareness/capacity development, 5). partnership building/networking, 6). knowledge management & sharing (Current & traditional knowledge), 7). utilization of local culture.

TCP has improved the socioeconomic conditions and well being of the community through ‘Community Based Ecosystem Conservation Approach’ (CBECA). There, TCP implemented various community based projects at the same time, through different CBOs.

TCP has formed CBOs such as community Batik group, Fish breeding group, sewing, coir mat, bee keeping, agro farming etc and provided alternative livelihood development skills training for these CBO members.  TCP also provided the equipment and initial stocks of material/raw material.  Further, initial capital needs were met through the revolving fund scheme.  TCP has implemented infrastructure development programs such as renovation of rural roads in order to facilitate local tourism and other businesses.

In addition, TCP has established a public library, public bus halting places and drinking water facilities.  Further, TCP has also implemented community skills development programs such as primary school programs, computer classes, free English language classes, swimming training and disaster preparedness training.  Children’s clubs were established in order to involve children in the coastal eco-system conservation and management process, providing them with necessary awareness through various educational programs. TCP has also implemented community health programs such as, medical clinics, free herbal drinks for school children, community welfare services and first aid training.

The TCP developed multiple partnerships in order to make the project a success.  TCP facilitated networking of CBOs into an umbrella organization/consortium of CBOs.  Later this was linked to relevant government institutions, local business organizations, and international organizations such as the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), UN Volunteer Program, SCOTIA- USAID, UNDP GEF SGP, MercyCorps, etc. for necessary training, business links, marketing opportunities etc.  Eg. SCOTIA-USAID helped the community Batik Group, by financing a production facility in Rekawa. Mercy Corps helped both the Batik and Coir Groups by financing for kiosks at 10 large hotels in Tangalle, to display and sell community products.  The Wildlife Conservation Department has been invited and involved in the project to enforce the law and also to declare the Rakawa beach as Sri Lanka’s first Marine Turtle Sanctuary.

Kapurusinghe, T., Ekanayake, L., Rathnakumara, S. and Saman, M.M.
Turtle Conservation Project (TCP), Sri Lanka

HELP-O has started to construct biogas plant in 2004 in Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle which is one of major hospitals in Sri Lanka. On that time that hospital faced critical issue that is solid waste problem but the organization had a vision that is to build a biogas plant inside the hospital. When this process implement we had to face many challenges first change the attitudes. This biogas plant works since 2004 with out any problem.  Through this program the hospital could able to earn Rs.60, 000 per month and they decreased many diseases from this biogas people dump waste in proper way.

After this the organization could able to expand this process in to village wide the second step started in 2007. This program implemented through the people’s company which is formed after the Tsunami disaster the total membership is more than 10,000. First we provide a community biogas plant for village and from it 6 people can get biogas for cook and they have to pay Rs.500 per every month this money will use to expand this project. There are 3 community bio gas unit in walauwaththa area. And 2 bio gas units in Samagiwaththa 2 bio gas units in Thalapitiya, one bio gas unit in Eththiligoda. In addition to that HELP-O has constructed a bio gas unit in Mahamodara hospital.

Environment impact is huge of this project. And it is sustainable solution of waste problem the GMC didn’t have a good dumping system from this kind of activities we could able to decrease it. There are many long term impacts

•    Decrease the Organic / Non organic  waste
•    Make a good waste dumping system implement inside of village
•    Increase the Home gardens in villages
•    Decrease the Flooding problems which happen from Wastes
•    Decrease the diseases happened from wastes
•    Provide Biog Gas for houses with low cost and decrease the usage of LP gas
•    Decrease the use age of Chemical Manure to Cultivation
•    Make a Revolving fund inside of the People’s Company for Environment Fund which comes from the amount that gas use beneficiaries.

On the other hand this biogas plants helps to decrease the Global warming because the methane gas increase the Global warming and now community will not dump waste in near the road and they use this biogas. The non organic wastes are colleting by community and they sell it to recycling and that is help for decrease the POP gas

To generate power of bio gas, source is the organic waste which collects from the houses and trading shops around the Galle city. We have built some saving groups relating to our peoples company in this area. Families who hope to get bio gas for their houses , should pay 500 rupees per month for using bio gas. They should pay this amount to peoples company branch. These amounts are debited to the fund named bio gas fund in this people’s company branch. The members of the peoples company hope to use this fund to build more bio gas units in the area.

To generate power it should be put waste in to bio gas pit daily. We hope to generate new employment opportunity relating to this matter. By recruiting one or two person to collect waste from various institutions like hotels, they can be paid some amount   of money from peoples company branch. And some hotels agreed to pay some amount to the waste collectors for removing their waste.

Our organization has introduced a cart to collect the waste the waste collect by the community and they dump it to biogas plant.

Following Oranizations  gives their assistance to continue the bio gas project.
UNDP – Financial assistance
Central Environment Authority – assistence
Galle Municiple Council – government assistence
HELP-O – Implementing and Technical assistence

P.M.A. Thennakoon
HELP – O Galle, Sri Lanka

Coconut is the largest plantation crop covering 395,000 ha of land area and contributes to considerable amount of export earning in the country. Although intercropping under coconut is being practiced for long time, proper investigations into economic issues has been rather limited. The present study was therefore conducted to study the intercropping patterns of the coconut small holders in Gampaha district which has the largest extent of coconut land. Main objectives are to identify the intercropping system that gives the highest revenue and to identify contribution of different management practices towards the income of the coconut lands.

Sixty one coconut land owners with land holding size of 1-4 ha were selected for the study from all 13 Divisional Secretariat (DS) areas of the district. The respondent numbers were proportionate to the number of coconut growers in each DS area. The small holders were interviewed during December 2007 to September 2008. Detailed information on the land including intercropping extents, crops, revenues, land types and soil conservation measures adopted were collected.

Results indicate that 50 percent of the smallholders do not practice intercropping and pepper and pineapple as the most profitable intercropping system. A multiple regression analysis carried out to understand how the different management practices of the intercropped lands contribute to the total income indicates the positive contribution of soil conservation measures and number of intercrops and the importance of land type. The policy implications of the results especially towards replicating the best management practices and the best combination of intercrops in coconut small holders are highlighted.

Perera, M.D.S. and Gunawardena, U.A.D.P.
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka