Introduction

The project aims to increase farm productivity, raise farms’ income and improve the lives of rural farmer families living in the dry zones of Sri Lanka. The project have been implemented in year 2005 and had provided 5,000 Solar-powered drip irrigation units to small farmers at the mid of the year 2007.                                              
Now the project had installed 6,000 No of drip irrigation units at selected farmlands in dry zone and it has been implemented in 14 districts; Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Hambanthota, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala , Mannar, Matale, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura and Trincomalee.

Objectives

Popularization of low cost solar powered drip irrigation technology for efficient and sustainable management of water, soil and plant nutrients in water deficit areas (Dry zone and Intermediate zone).

Major  Activities of the project

Supply of drip irrigation kits is done by an Australian company called Bp Solar through its local agent, Solar Solutions (pvt) Ltd. Installation and maintenance are done by Solar Solutions (pvt) Ltd and technical staff of this company provides training to farmers on operation and maintain the system. Ministry of Agriculture Development with the technical assistance of Solar solutions (pvt) Ltd, provides training to District Officers and Agriculture Instructors of the Ministry of Agriculture Development and farmers on operation and maintenance of drip irrigation system and improved methods in agriculture.

Benefits

• Increase yield by 2-3 fold
• Water saving (nearly 50%)
• Reduce inputs and labour cost (fertilizer, fuel and weeding)
• Reduce price fluctuation of vegetables and other field crops by introducing off season cultivation
• Saves time used for application of water, fertilizer and weeding
  Basic requirements to be fulfilled by the interested farmer
• Should be a dry zone farmer
• Farmer that owns more than 0.5 acres of land
• Farmer must have a well built that can accommodate 6,000 to 7,000 liters of water per day
• Must have good credibility with banks
• Should be a innovative farmer

 Bp Solar is responsible for the technical and management aspects of the project, handling the design, manufacture, supply & installation of the Solar-powered drip irrigation systems. All maintenance activities are done by Solar Solutions (Pvt) Ltd within first 03 years after installation. Warranty period of the Solar Panel is 25 years.

Payment Procedure

Farmers those who are willing to get the Solar powered drip irrigation system, for further information could contact; Agriculture extension officers, Samurdhi bank manager, Samurdhi development officer, Agriculture instructors in the area or District Co-ordination officers of Agriculture, Divisional officers of the closer Agrarian Services Centre, Agricultue Research & Development Assistants in the area and Natural Resource Management unit (011- 2888929) in the Ministry of Agriculture .