Agro-well based Agroforestry systems; A new type from the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The major challenge for the Dry Zone farmers at non irrigated areas in Sri Lanka is the water scarcity. This situation is a major barrier to the sustainable use of resources and maintaining income generation activities throughout the year. In this context these farmers realized the need for another source of water. The strategy was the construction of large diameter wells (Agro wells) to tap the shallow ground water, in low lying areas, either near the small tanks or the small streams. The rate of construction of Agro wells has accelerated with the interventions of the Agricultural Development Authority, since 1982. Generally, cultivation of perennial crops using agro-wells is not common. Only seasonal crops are cultivated and income was obtained only during the rainy season. However, some farmers maintain seasonal crops, perennial crops, woody trees and animal husbandry using this water source. This context provided a unique opportunity to explore this new land use pattern revealed in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, recently. Field research for this study was conducted covering 20 agro well based agricultural areas out of the total of 68 in the "Aluth Divul wewa sub watershed " in " Yan Oya watershed " , in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The collected data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The land equivalent ratio (LER) has revealed that 90 % of lands represent more productivity and canopy cover has increased up to 41.5 % from 7.9%. Further, evolution, composition, characteristics, layers, and spatial arrangements of these land use patterns represent 100 % of agroforestry characteristics. Thus, Agro well based agriculture is qualified to be called "Agroforestry systems" according to the Nair's classifications.

Full text

Agro-well based Agroforestry systems;
A new type from the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
Department of Geography
University of Peradeniya
mudithpras@gmail.com
.
The major challenge for the Dry Zone farmers at non irrigated areas in Sri Lanka is the
water scarcity. This situation is a major barrier to the sustainable use of resources and
maintaining income generation activities throughout the year. In this context these farmers
realized the need for another source of water. The strategy was the construction of large diameter
wells (Agro wells) to tap the shallow ground water, in low lying areas, either near the small tanks
or the small streams. The rate of construction of Agro wells has accelerated with the
interventions of the Agricultural Development Authority, since 1982.
Generally, cultivation of perennial crops using agro-wells is not common. Only seasonal
crops are cultivated and income was obtained only during the rainy season. However, some
farmers maintain seasonal crops, perennial crops, woody trees and animal husbandry using this
water source. This context provided a unique opportunity to explore this new land use pattern
revealed in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, recently.
Field research for this study was conducted covering 20 agro well based agricultural
areas out of the total of 68 in the "Aluth Divul wewa sub watershed” in “Yan Oya watershed”, in
the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The collected data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative
methods.
The land equivalent ratio (LER) has revealed that 90 % of lands represent more
productivity and canopy cover has increased up to 41.5 % from 7.9%. Further, evolution,
composition, characteristics, layers, and spatial arrangements of these land use patterns represent
100 % of agroforestry characteristics.
Thus, Agro well based agriculture is qualified to be called "Agroforestry systems"
according to the Nair’s classifications.
Key words ; Water scarcity, Agro wells, Agroforestry systems.
References:

1. Dharmasena, P.B. (1998), Resource management studies on Agro well farming in the
dry zone of Sri Lanka – Project terminal report, Field crops research and development
institute, Mahailluppallama
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and Vergara,N.T. (edits), “Agroforestry: Classification and Management”, John wiley
and sons, New york.
3. Nanayakkara V.R. (1993), Agroforestry Systems and their practice in Sri Lanka.,
MPTS in Sri Lanka.
4. Wickramasinghe, Anoja. (1997), Land and Forestry, Collaborative Regional Research
Network in South Asia, Colombo
5. .http://www.unl.edu/nac/agroforestry.html