Together with local subsistence farmers, donors and guidance provided by the agricultural office of the local area, Ven. Somananda has begun another journey- to find water, purify water for drinking and establish a small irrigation system to cultivate two acres of land to uplift the income of the local community.
Precious Drinking Water Stage 1 (completed)
Thousands of people in the surrounding area of the village suffering from chronic kidney disease. According to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, 15% of the population here is affected. The new study blames farm chemicals which polluted natural water sources in the North Central Province. Therefore Ven. Somamananda making an extra effort to provide villagers with clean water.
With the kind donations received so far, a tube well has been dug 70 feet deep. However with the depth up to 70 feet, the established water supply is only sufficient during wet season. In order to keep a continuous water supply (current demand is approx. 6,000 litres per day) for the water flirtations system another 150 feet well need to be dig to tap in to a stable water source underground. we are looking for donations worth Rs. 200,000 to complete the deep tube well.
June 2019
Thanks to our donors for donations worth Rs. 200,000, we have now completed the deep tube well so that villagers can continue to receive uninterrupted supply of drinking water without any health hazard. We are pleased to announce that we currently distribute approx. 6,000 litres of clean drinking water per day for surrounding villages.
Precious Drinking Water Stage 2 – Water purifying unit (completed)
A complete water purification system has now been established in the village which is capable of purifying 10,000 liters per day. Thanks to SL Navy stepping in to provide support for this life saving project. However we are still waiting Stage 1 to be completed with required funds(see above) to start distributing clean drinking water to the nearby villagers.
Precious Water – Farming – Stage 1
1.1 Finding a water source (completed)
With the kind donations received so far, a deep well has been dug with excavations and drilling a borehole down below the water table to tap into the groundwater.
1.2 Completion of the Well (ongoing)
For the cost of Rs.175,000 so far we have managed to the find the water source and dig a well. However we still need another Rs. 175,000 worth of donations to dig further and build retaining walls to secure the well construction.
Precious Water – Farming Stage 2 – Irrigation system
Currently we are researching into a combination of centuries-old techniques with modern tools to see how local farms can thrive it’s farming in this dry area of land in semi-arid climates.
Since a water source is now established we are looking at the possibility of using a drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation conserves water when compared to other methods such as sprinklers and flood systems. It delivers water at the ground level, directly to the plants through perforations in the pipes or drip tape, reducing evaporation and runoff.
Drip systems will be gravity fed. We need to pump water from the well to a raised tower above the fields. From there, the water flows down pipes through a drip irrigation system. But to get to the water up to the tower, the farmers need a pump and pipes for the drip irrigation. Please contact us if you are able to help.
Precious Water – Farming Stage Stage 3 – Model Farm and Paddy field cultivation
With the direction of Ven. Somananda Thero, a paddy field has been cultivated in one and a half acres of land by the villagers.
With the guidance provided by the local agricultural office, we will soon publish a detailed report for the model farm, initially it will be established in half an acre of land.
Tree plantation and reforestation
Plans are underway to replant trees essentials for village eco system and aid agriculture. As a first stage we are making preparations for planting 500 trees mainly consisting of:
- Mee – Madhuca longifolia (aid eco friendly fertilisation of agricultural land).
- Kumbuk – Terminalia arjuna (roots have the ability to purify water and wood used as timber).
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