Improving System Efficiencies and Water Productivity (ISEWP) Project is a sub-component of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP) and the goal of ISEWP is to prepare a strategy for the improvement of irrigation system efficiency and water productivity. The strategy includes measures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of water delivery service trough physical and nonphysical improvements and increase farm production and returns. An integral part of ISEWP requires that irrigation and agricultural improvements be demonstrated in selected areas as the first step in a scaling-up process of improving the regional productivity of irrigation water and in demonstrating the long-term viability and sustainability of irrigated agriculture in the face of changing climate.
The overall objective of ISEWP is to analyze and demonstrate sustainable increases in irrigation system efficiencies and water productivity in both yields and returns that can be readily adopted in systems and farms in the Mahaweli irrigation areas.
The project consists of two parts, the first being the “Case Study Irrigation System” and the second part “Pilot Demonstration”.
The project has selected 04 locations for its interventions. (Huruluwewa scheme -LB/DC 3, Minipe LB scheme -DC 47,Maduru Oya LB-DC 6 & 104, Silwathgama minor tank cascade)
The study began in the 2019/2020 Maha season and under the first part, MASSCOTE and RAP studies were carried out on all four selected irrigation systems. System asset inventory of Maduru Oya and Huruluwewa were completed and Minipe report is in progress. Flow measuring gauges were fixed in Maduru Oya irrigation scheme. Temporary flow measuring arrangements are fixing in Minipe and Huruluwewa.
Pilot farms were selected, established demonstrations through the interventions for agriculture, irrigation, and participatory irrigation management.
The main objective of the workshop was to draw up plans to increase irrigation efficiency and water productivity in the irrigation schemes of Minipe and Mahaweli B zone by utilization of ISEWP study results collected so far, the experience gathered from Minipe Scheme by Irrigation Department and experience gathered from Mahaweli System-B of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka.
After the High-level discussion of stakeholder organizations conducted in Colombo, project-level discussions have planned to conduct in Minipe and Mahaweli System-B with the active participation of field level officers to prepare to implement plans for intervention.
Officers from the Irrigation department , Irrigation management department, Mahaweli Authority, and selected key staff from PMU , MLBCRP, and ISEWP have actively participated.
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