Vital Farm Inputs Procured by the CSIAP Tested at FMRC, Mahailluppallama

A total of 4325 sets of vital farm inputs procured under the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) implemented under Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation were subjected to a comprehensive quality verification process at the Farm Mechanization Research Centre (FMRC), Mahailluppallama, recently to ensure that they meet the agreed technical specifications before being distributed to farming communities.

 Each set of farm inputs was tested under eleven categories, which included Solar-powered Water Pumps, Electric Water Pumps, and Micro Irrigation Systems such as Sprinklers, Drip, Micro Jet, and Rain Hose on the FMRC premises. The inputs,  installed by the respective service providers, will support several CSIAP initiatives, namely the Climate-Smart Agronomic Improvements Programme, Climate-Smart Commercial Home Gardening Programme, Micro Irrigation Programme, and the Climate-Smart Agriculture Model Village Programme. The FMRC technical staff, together with Chief Engineer Mr. Anuradha Wijethunga, conducted practical tests and evaluations to assess durability, performance, and compliance with the required standards.

Prior to the testing, the CSIAP Project Director, Mr. Saman Bandulasena held a meeting with the vendors, during which he explained the purpose of subjecting all inputs to testing. He emphasized that this process was not only a procurement requirement but also a crucial step to guarantee that farmers receive quality-assured, climate-smart technologies that will directly support their livelihoods. This testing process is a key quality assurance step to ensure that only high-standard, climate-smart technologies are delivered to farmers. Once cleared, the farm inputs will be distributed among beneficiaries in 11 districts across six provinces in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, where the CSIAP is being implemented with the objective of promoting climate-resilient, water-efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices. 

The inspection and testing session was led by Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director of CSIAP, together with Mr. H.M.P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director for the North Central Province, Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director for Northern Province and Mr. D.M.L. Bandaranayake, Deputy Project Director for Southern and Uva Provinces. Several subject specialists and other officials of the CSIAP also participated in the event, reflecting the project’s strong emphasis on accountability and transparency in procurement and implementation.

Speaking during the inspection, Project Director Mr. Bandulasena highlighted that ensuring the quality of procured inputs is essential to the project’s success. “Our farmers must receive only the best quality technologies, as they play a critical role in increasing productivity and resilience under changing climate conditions,” he said.

The CSIAP, funded by the World Bank, is designed to introduce climate-smart technologies, improve irrigation efficiency, and enhance sustainable agriculture in vulnerable regions of Sri Lanka. The rigorous testing and monitoring of farm inputs is part of its broader commitment to ensure farmers benefit from reliable and effective tools that will strengthen food security and rural livelihoods.