📈 Japan & FAO Invest US$ 1.33 Mn to Revitalize Sri Lanka's Minor Tank Systems

The Ministry of Agriculture, with financial backing from Japan and technical support from the FAO, has launched a US$ 1.33 million initiative to enhance climate resilience in the dry zone. • Project Scope & Timeline: A 12-month project (March 2026 – February 2027) targeting the rehabilitation of traditional tank cascade systems in the Trincomalee and Vavuniya districts. • Direct Impact: Benefits approximately 400 smallholder farmers directly and 2,000 household members indirectly by improving paddy cultivation and water productivity. • Key Interventions: Infrastructure: Desilting, invasive weed removal, and rehabilitation of sluice gates, canals, and embankments. Technology: Introduction of sensor-based water monitoring and real-time climate data tools. Sustainability: Scaling Climate-Smart Good Agricultural Practices (CSGAP), including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) methods. • Economic Context: Minor tank systems, comprising over 10,000 reservoirs, are the backbone of rural agriculture. Previous trials show that AWD and sensor-based irrigation can reduce water usage by over 35% while simultaneously improving crop yields. • Strategic Goal: The initiative aims to address decades of underinvestment and climate vulnerability, creating a scalable model for water management and food security across Sri Lanka’s dry and intermediate zones.