Content uploaded by Muditha Prasannajith Perera
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Muditha Prasannajith Perera on May 27, 2020
Content may be subject to copyright.
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
20
Perera, Muditha Prasannajith (2019),
Agro-well Development in Sri Lanka and the Current Status,
Colombo; S. Godage & Brothers Ltd.
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
21
2. Agro-well Development in the Dry Zone of
Sri Lanka
“The rate of construction
of Agro-wells to use
shallow groundwater has
accelerated with the
interventions of the
Agricultural
Development Authority
(ADA) and the
Provincial Councils since
1989.”
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
22
2. Agro-well Development in the Dry Zone of
Sri Lanka
2.1 Systematic interventions
The Anuradhapura Dry Zone Agricultural Project (ADZAP) was implemented over a five
year period from 1981, for the establishment of a well developed farming system in the
project area, including the restoration of minor tanks and practicing and encouraging
Agricultural wells or Agro-wells (Jayasena,1991). However, the rate of construction of
Agro-wells to use shallow groundwater has accelerated with the interventions of the
Agricultural Development Authority (ADA) and the Provincial Councils since 1989
(Pathmarajah, 2002). “The National Agro-well Programme” was the key intervention. In
addition, various nongovernmental organizations such as the International fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and a few Non
Governmental Organizations including Isuru Foundation also extend subsidies and
subsidized loans for the construction of Agro-wells (Kikuchi et al. 2003). However
according to Aheeyar’s (2002) explanation, there are about 46% Agro-wells in the dry
zone without any subsidy programmes.
Since then, Agro-wells have gained popularity as the farmer has flexibility in the
selection of crops and period of cultivation, as well as the irrigation water independency,
in addition to the economic profitability. Consequently, various government and non-
government agencies have extended their support to promote the use of Agro-wells
through subsidy schemes until today(Perera, 2016).
In Sri Lanka, the total number of Agro-wells was estimated as 50,000 by the year 2000
(Pathmarajah, (ed), 2002) and it has been increased approximately to 120,000 (including
non registered Agro-wells) by the year 2010. However, currently it has been increased
up to nearly 150,000 (Perera, 2017) (Figure 2.1).
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
23
Figure: 2.1: Agro-well development of Sri Lanka
2.2 Key areas for Agro-well development
Agro-well density was comparatively high in Malwathu Oya, Kala Oya, Daduru
Oya, Mi Oya and Kirindi Oya basins in Sri Lanka (Kikuchi et al. 2003). Among these
areas, a heavy construction of Agro-wells was found in the north central and north
western part of the country, basically covering Malwathu Oya and Daduru Oya basin or
administratively Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts (Perera et.al, 2016). The
tendency of Agro-wells was to be concentrated in to minor irrigation schemes (Kikuchi et
al. 2003). Anuradhapura district belongs to the North Central dry zone and where as
Kurunegala district belongs to the North Western dry zone.
Considering all the background, when examining the diffusion of Agro-wells, we can
identify four key areas for Agro-well (large diameter wells) development in Sri Lanka.
1. North Central region
2. South Eastern region
3. North Western region
4. Northern plain
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
160000
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018
Agro
-wells
Years
Construction of Agro-wells in Sri Lanka
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
24
Map 2.1: Key areas of Agro-well Development in Sri Lanka
Source: Author
2.3 Agro-well development in the vicinity of tanks
The topography of the central dry zone consisted of a thin weathered soil zone which
appears to overlain by a thin alluvium layer in the lower and middle parts of the small
valleys that consist of small tanks. This weathered bedrock is the aquifer which serves as
the groundwater reserves for Agro-well irrigation (Dharmasena and Goodwill, 1999).
One of the realistic fact that, the construction of small tank system in the dry zone was a
one of major efforts to maintain the ground water level closer to the land surface
(Dharmesena, 2002).
If there is a water column of 2 m is found by the end of the dry season, such locations can
be considered suitable for the construction of Agro-wells (Dharmasena and Goodwill,
1999). Farmers who have understood this background, and government and
nongovernment officers, started to use this resource. Further, a majority of the farmers
South Eastern
region
North Western
region
North Central
region
Northern
plain
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
25
did not hesitate to excavate in their low lands in the vicinity of small tanks, with or
without governmental support. Thus, a number of minor and major irrigation schemes as
well as a large extent of low lands in small inland valleys, in the dry zone of Sri Lanka
were converted in to “Agro-well lands”. With this trend, by the year 2003, 99 % of the
large diameter wells (Agro-wells) of Sri Lanka were situated in the dry zone areas
(Kikuchi et al. 2003).
According to a research conducted in the Vavunia district by Madduma Bandara (1979),
it was revealed that 90% of wells are situated within 1 km of small tanks or streams. The
reason for this was that the dry zone farmers have practically known that it is easy to find
the groundwater in comparatively low lying areas or near the water bodies. They were
cultivating paddy in the irrigated areas and cultivating vegetables in the high lands near
the irrigation command areas, using well water. In this background, farmers have built
Agro-wells in the vicinity of small tanks and in other low lands recently. That means,
farmers use rich shallow ground water areas near the streams or small tanks depending on
their indigenous knowledge (Figure 3 & 4).
Perera (2001) studied the Agro-well development in the vicinity of small tanks in
Dambagaswewa sub watershed in the Yan Oya Basin. According to the findings 85% of
Agro-wells are situated within ½ km to the tanks and the interelationship of the water
level behaviour between Agro-wells and tanks was well identified. Panabokke (2001),
Pathmarajah (2002), Dharamasena (2004), and Perera (2010), (Perera and Nianthi,
2016)have revealed that about 90% of Agro-wells are situated within 1 km of small tanks
for using the shallow regolith aquifers in tanks environment. Panabokke (2002) clarified
this background as, due to the water shortage during the dry season
1
, farmers have started
to construct Agro-wells to tap the “Shallow Ground Water” in low lying areas near the
small streams or small tanks.
Following a number of studies, Senaratne (2002) revealed that around 20% of the Agro-
wells are located in the upper catchment area of the tank cascade, around 35% in the
1
Normally May to September is the dry season for the dry zone of Sri Lanka.
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
26
middle catchment area, 20% in the lower reaches of the catchment area, and around 25%
located below the tanks within the cascade.
Further, Kikuchi et al. (2003) emphasised that the Agro-well development especially in
minor irrigation schemes
2
or in the small tanks environments has been very rapid, and
that has again been proved by Wijesundara, Nandasena and Jayakody (2012).
Figure2. 1: Agro-well Figure 2.2: Tank & Agro-well
Source: Field Observation 2012 Source: Field Observation 2012
Figure 2.3: Agro-well development in the vicinity of tanks
Source: Perera, 2016
2
According to the Agrarian Service Act (1979), “minor irrigation schemes” are irrigation areas which have
below 80 ha.
Tank
Agro-well
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
27
Figure 2.4: Agro-well development in the vicinity of tanks
Source: Perera, 2017 (Modified from www.sampathsrilanka.info/TCS.pdf)
Scientifically, there are three types of tanks as “Large Tanks” (more than 400 ha of
irrigated area), “Medium scale Tanks” (400-80 ha of irrigated area) and “Small Tanks”
(less than 80 ha of irrigated area) in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. All minor scale tanks
possess an irrigated command area of 80 ha or less, defined as “Small Tanks” by the
Agrarian Service Act No. 59 of 1979. They have also been referred to as “Village Tanks”
in official records and published literature (Panabokke, 2002). Agro well development is
common to all types of tanks. But more than 95% of tanks belong to small tank category,
and according to Panabokke (2002) the number of the small tanks in Sri Lanka is 15499.
Therefore interaction of Agro-wells is stronger with small tanks. Most probably every
small valley in the central dry zone is filled with small tanks systems as identified at first
by Bailey (1855) and also the diffusion of Agro-wells throughout this area is more
significant.
2.4 Agro-well development of the North Central dry zone
Construction of Agro-wells in the area began in 1989, with the intervention of the
Agricultural Development Authority and the Provincial Council of the North Central
Province. Previously, the “Anuradhapura Dry Zone Agricultural Project” (ADZAP) has
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
28
been implemented covering 12 villages, and was implemented over a five year period
from 1981 onwards for the establishment of a well developed farming system in the
project area, including the restoration of minor tanks and encouraging Agro-wells
(Jayasena, 1991). Although the construction of Agro-wells started in 1989 in the area,
excavation for Agro-wells was accelerated between 1991-1995, with the arrival of
excavating machines to the area.
Figure 2.5: Excavating an Agro-well by a machine
Source: Field observation - 2012
The construction and development of Agro-wells were not determined solely by
hydrological considerations as commonly envisioned. There were other political,
economic and management factors that play a role in driving this new development over
the last few decades (Panabokke et al. 2002). As identified by Aheeyar and Ariyabandu
(2007) about 55% of Agro-wells have been constructed with a subsidy programme in the
Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts, and the rest of the 45% have been constructed by
themselves without any external assistance. In this study area 52% farmers have
constructed Agro-wells with subsidy programmes of North Central Provincial Council
and “The National Agro-well Programme” launched by the Agricultural Development
Authority since 1989. In this context, the usage of Shallow ground water, for dry land
farming using Agro-wells has become popular.
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
29
Figure 2.6: An Agro-well in Periyakulama cascade, Malwathu oya basin
Source: Field observation - 2012
The result was the construction of Agro-wells throughout the low land areas belong to
farmers. People who are motivated towards the Agro-well based agriculture did not
hesitate to construct Agro-wells, even without the external supports. However every
possible place was converted occurring this new development approach.
Accordingly the central dry zone is the key area in the diffusion of Agro-wells. Within
the Anuradhapura district, the highest number of Agro-wells are situated in
Galenbindunuwewa, Medawachchiya, Thirappane, Horowpothana and Mihintale DS
divisions, situated in the Malwathu Oya and Yan Oya Basins. However, the North
Central dry zone is the key area for both Agro-well development and tank cascade
environments (Aheeyar 2002, Panabokke 2002, Kikuchi 2003, Dharmasena 2004).
According to Panabokke (2002), Kikuchi (2003) and Dharmasena (2004), the rate of
construction of Agro wells, of north central dry zone areas was very rapid. That was
exemplified by the Agro-well availability data in the Anuradhapura district.
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
30
Table 2.1: Number of Agro-wells in Anuradhapura district
D.S. Division
2008
Mid 2012
Estimates
Reasons for recent increasing
1
Galenbindunuwewa
1269
2300
Agricultural development in high lands
2
Galnewa
540
700
3
Horowpothana
753
1050
Post war period
4
Ipalogama
206
550
Agricultural development in high lands
5
Kabithigollewa
495
800
Post war period
6
Kahatagasdigiliya
578
1000
Post war period
7
Kakirawa
866
1000
8
Madawachchiya
962
1000
9
Mahawilachchiya
560
700
10
Mihinthale
679
1000
Agricultural development in high lands
11
Nachchaduwa
205
350
12
Nochchiyagama
527
700
13
Nuwaragampalatha(Central)
603
650
14
Nuwaragampalatha(East)
353
450
15
Padeviya
280
600
Post war period
16
Palagala
813
1050
17
Palugaswewa
254
500
18
Rajanganaya
141
300
19
Rambewa
965
1200
20
Thalawa
746
1050
Agricultural development in high lands
21
Thambuththegama
441
550
22
Thirappane
1025
2100
Agricultural development in high lands
Total
13261
19600
Source:1.Agricultural Common Report-2008, Agrarian Service Commissioner office,
Anuradhapura
Source :2.(Estimates) ASD Regional offices documents & Commissioner office documents.
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
31
Accordingly, the North Central dry zone of Sri Lanka, specially Malwathu Oya and Yan
Oya basins have become significant areas for the Agro-well development in addition to,
river basins of Daduru Oya, Kala Oya and Kirindi Oya.
References
Aheeyar, M.M.M., and Ariyabandu R.D.S. 2002, Socio-economic Issues Pertinent to
Agro-well Farming in Sri Lanka. In Pathmarajah, S. (ed), Use of Ground Water for
Agriculture in Sri Lanka -Symposium Proceedings, Agricultural engineering society of
Sri Lanka, Peradeniya.
Dharmasena, P.B., and Goodwill I.M, 1999, Use of Ground Water in Minor Tank
Irrigation Schemes of Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of 17th International Congress on
Irrigation and Drainage, Granada, Spain (pp.175-194).
Dharmasena, P.B., 2002, Integrated Management of Surface and Ground Water
Resources in Tank Cascade Systems. In Pathmarajah, S. (ed), Use of Ground Water for
Agriculture in Sri Lanka -Symposium Proceedings, Agricultural engineering society of
Sri Lanka, Peradeniya (pp. 53-65).
Dharmasena, P.B., 2004, Small Tank Heritage and Current Problems: Village tank
categorization. In Aheeyar, M.M. (Ed.), Small Tank Settlements in Sri Lanka.
Kobbakaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Jayasena, W. G., 1991, Anuradhapura Dry Zone Agricultural Project (ADZAP)-A socio
economic study of project beneficiaries”, Agrarian Research & Training Institute,
Colombo.
Kikuchi, M. et al., 2003, Agro-well and Pump Diffusion in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka
(Research Report–66), International Water Management Institute, Colombo (pp. 1-25).
Madduma Bandara, C.M., 1979, A Study of the Practice of Well Irrigation in the Country
Around Vavuniya in Northern Sri Lanka. In “Sri Lanka journal of social sciences”, (Vol-
2-no.2) The Social science research centre, Colombo.
Panabokke, C.R., 2002, Nature of Occurrence of the Regolith Aquifer in the Hard Rock
Region of the North Central Dry Zone and its Rational Exploitation for Agro-well
Development. In Pathmarajah, S. (ed), Use of Groundwater for Agriculture in Sri Lanka -
Symposium Proceedings, Agricultural engineering society of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya
(pp.10-22).
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
32
Panabokke, C.R., 2002, The Nature and Prosperities of Small Tank Systems of the Dry
Zone and Their Sustainable Production Thresholds, International Water Management
Institute, Colombo.
Pathmarajah, S., 2002, Use of Groundwater for Agriculture in Sri Lanka, In Pathmarajah,
S. (ed), Use of Ground water for agriculture in Sri lanka -Symposium Proceedings,
Agricultural engineering society of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya.
Perera, M.P., 2001, The Impact of Agro-wells in the Vicinity of Small Tanks on the
Watershed Management, (Un published B.A. Dissertation), University of Peradeniya,
Peradeniya.
Perera, M.P., 2010, Land use Changes in Aluth Divulwewa Subwatershed and Emergence
of Agro-wells based Agroforestry Systems, (Un published M.Phil Thesis), University of
Peradeniya, Peradeniya.
Perera, M.P., Nianthi, K.W.G.R. and Madduma Bandara C.M. (2016), Agro-well
Development and its Impact on Groundwater Table Depletion in Tank Cascades in the
Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, in International Journal of Arts and Commerce (Vol.5-No.5),
South Shields, United Kingdom. http://www. 1929-7106 www.ijac.org.uk 66-77
Perera, M.P., and Nianthi, K.W.G.R. (2016), The Impact of Agro-well Development on
Floral Diversity in Tank Cascades in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, in International Journal
of Science and Research (IJSR), (Vol.5- Issue 6), DOI: 10.21275/v5i6.NOV164764
Perera, M.P., (2016), Development of Agro-well Lands and Its impact on Soil Salinity in
the North Central Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, in International Journal of Science and
Research (IJSR), (Vol.5- Issue 7), DOI: 10.21275/v5i7.ART2016217
Perera, M.P., (2017), Groundwater Exploration for Agro-well Development in Sri Lanka
and the Current Status, in International Research Journal of Human Resources and Social
Sciences (IRJHRSS), (Vol. 4 Issue 8), (pp. 359-373).
Senaratne, A., 2002, Groundwater Exploration in Sri Lanka , in Pathmarajah,s.(ed), Use
of Groundwater for Agriculture in Sri Lanka-Symposium Proceedings, Agricultural
Engineering Society of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya.
http://www.sampathsrilanka.info/TCS.pdf (accessed on 26th January 2012)
Government Acts & Regulations
Govt. of SL., Agrarian Services Act, No 58, 1979
Govt. of SL., Agrarian Development Act, No. 46 of 2000
Govt. of SL., Agrarian Service Revised Bill, 2006
Muditha Prasannajith Perera
33
