Rice farming is the main livelihood of the farmers. They face numerous problems, which gives them a very uncertain, undependable lifestyle. These fall into three categories.
1. Economic (lack of money, and a guaranteed marketing structure)
2. Environmental (lack of water or too much of it at the wrong time)
3. War (the civil war lasted 30 years during which period these villagers
suffered loss of life, fear and inability to farm). Fortunately, this factor is no longer affecting their lives as the war is over..
Helping young farmers in Monaragala district
BVTS initiated a project to build a 20 acre Paddy farm in Pulmudai.
Distributing plants to farmers in Kantalai district.
Helping farmers in Pothanegama to grow various crops by proving plants, seeds and fertiliser
Distribution of coconut plants to farmers in Tantrimale.
BVTS also distributed essential farming equipment and other basic needs to many villagers who were returning to their abandoned villages.
Another way of helping the farmers was to give interest free loans to purchase seeds fertiliser etc including the Tsunami areas. BVTS has also distributed to some communities, hundreds of coconut seedlings and other cash crop plants which are in high demand.
Supplying farming equipment for farmers in Padaviya district
Providing torches to farmers to protect crops from elephants in Mahaaragama in Monaragala district
Providing fencing and equipment for irrigation to farmers in Mahaaragama in Monaragala district
BVTS also runs a bio-farm of 28 acres in Kebithigollawa, after restoring the reservoir for the water supply. This gives employment and food supply to the neighbouring families. We hope that the environmentally friendly farming will be adopted by others too, in the near future. This would eliminate/ free them from the financial debts as they can become self-sufficient.
The past BVTS projects have included restoration of a few neglected or abandoned reservoirs at Padaviya, Nuwaragalatenna and Tantirimale and the number of Agro-wells at Horowpothana, Gomarankadawela, Mangalagama, Arantalawa to provide irrigation for the fields and water for human and animal consumption. Such projects incur a lot of funding, but the benefits are measured in terms of food supply, income and employment.
Restoration of Nuwaragalatenne tank in Ampara district
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