In Sri Lanka, climate change is exacerbating soil salinity, which has become an urgent threat to agriculture. To address this challenge, they have just launched a potentially transformative farming experiment in Katukurunda. This pilot project hopes to rehabilitate land that had been long considered too degraded for farming, thus improving the island nation’s food security. By the end of this century, projections indicate that the proportion of “salty” land could increase from 24% to as much as 32% of Earth’s surface. This very disturbing trend demonstrates just how critical it is to move quickly.
Experts like Buddhi Marambe from the University of Peradeniya underscore the gravity of the situation, stating, “Soil salinity is a major issue in Sri Lanka.” According to recent joint FAO-UICN data, over 50% of local rice farmers around the Bentota River estuary have seen their livelihoods washed away. This concerning trend from saltwater intrusion deserves urgent action.
The STF’s efforts are part of a larger initiative by the worked to construct 18 small dams to block seawater from moving into agricultural land. This groundbreaking approach has already yielded potentially game-changing results. Agriculture farmers such as Aruna Priyankara Perera are crying cautious optimism over the project’s potential. Land provision Perera emphasized that the government gives land for agriculture. They add the additional requirement that, to count, it has to be actively cultivated. “The land is free for two years, provided you can show it’s being cultivated,” he commented.
The Experiment’s Progress
We are excited that the STF has recently embarked upon a new, engaging mission of restoring a paddy field. This land has been considered uninhabitable for 40 years due to saltwater intrusion. Yet they have thrived, successfully growing everything from coconut palms to pineapples, reclaiming land that many considered too far gone. Sameera Dilshan, a commando in an elite police unit who is working on the project. On a five-acre plot he’s managed, he’s personally planted 360 coconut trees, pumpkins, gourds and cucumbers.
“We’re tending to 360 coconut trees planted here… along with pumpkins, gourds, and cucumbers,” – Sameera Dilshan
Dilshan elaborated that the training program pilot began in 2022. It was included in an overall government strategy to buttress food security in Sri Lanka. Still, he’s optimistic about the project’s long-term prospects. “In two and a half years, we’ll know if it’s a success or not,” he stated.
The technique used by the STF, called “sorjan,” is based on a form of farming known in Thailand and Indonesia. This powerful system will help ensure the most efficient and effective use of existing land while enhancing productivity and profitability for farmers. Marambe described it as “an efficient and climate-resilient production system.”
Community Involvement and Future Plans
Local authorities have allocated 400 hectares for continued agriculture. They intend to quickly expand this area to 1,000 hectares in the next two years. Janaka Gunawardana, one of the local officials on the ground helping implement the project, was very optimistic about its potential impact. “There’s high demand for coconut. It will create income for our people,” he remarked.
Impact Farmers such as Gamini Piyal Wijesinghe have already expressed their concerns about the persistent adversities. “Everything is polluted by salt that comes up during high tide,” he explained. The contamination endangers not only current crops but raises a more alarming concern for future agricultural pursuits on the island.
Even against these challenges, the strength of local farmers and local officials’ commitment is palpable. They remain tireless in their efforts to restore their land and feed the future, of which they are an important part. That’s why initiatives like the STF’s farming experiment are so important to support. They are restoring hope to those whose livelihoods had been made tenuous, if not destroyed, by the threat of soil salinity.