JICA assists farming communities in Jaffna to restore livelihoods

Thursday, 23 December 2010 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed over renovated irrigation tanks and fishing jetties to the Department of Agriculture Development (DAD) and to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) in the Jaffna District recently.

The handing over of the fishing jetties took place under the patronage of the Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, Assistant Director – DFAR Dharmalingam and the local Government Agent of Jaffna Imelda Sukumar, while Patrick De Ranjan, the Assistant Commissioner of DAD Jaffna, chaired the handing over ceremony of the irrigation tanks.

The renovated irrigation tanks in Chavakachcheri, Kopay, Chankani. Tellippallai and Velanai DS divisions are expected to increase the water storage capacity to 45,742 cubic meters and will benefit some 350 farmers to improve and increase their agricultural livelihood activities.

The renovated jetties in Kakathivu and Navanthurai which were severely damaged during the conflict and then by the harsh hurricanes that followed will directly benefit over 1,200 fishermen to resume and improve their livelihood activities.

The renovation work of the jetties included the construction of durable and longstanding amour stone structures to reflect wave energy. This new feature is also expected to have a positive impact on the jetty structures and causeways in the district.

The Farmer Organisations (FO) and Fisheries Cooperative Societies (FCS), the direct beneficiaries of these renovated facilities, will be responsible for the future maintenance of the facilities. JICA also conducted Operation and Maintenance training programmes among representatives of FOs and FCSs and during these programmes action plans specifying the type and frequency of O&M activities for each tank and jetty were developed. These action plans were then endorsed by DAD and DFAR.

The construction activities were carried out by the participation of FOs for tanks and FCSs for jetties with technical assistance from JICA.

It is hoped that the renovated irrigation tanks and the fishing jetties will help to enhance the livelihood activities of the farming and fishing communities, including the resettling families in the Jaffna district.