Agro-Psychosocial Programme for Tsunami Affected in Coastal, Urban & Suburban Western
AGRO-PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAMME FOR TSUNAMI AFFECTED IN COASTAL, URBAN & SUBURBAN WESTERN SRI LANKA
Dr. T. T. Ranasinghe, Director of Agriculture (WesternProvince)
P.O. Box 1561,Colombo, Sri Lanka.Tel:- +94-11-2472360, Fax:- +94-11-2320303
E-mail:- /
How Tsunami Seismic Waves intruded land through Kaluthara coast on
26th December 2004. Source: “Digital Globe” Quickbird Images.
The WesternProvince, Department of Agriculture launches agricultural and psychologically based series of strategies to mitigate mental and physical drawbacks of Tsunami victims. The series of actions aim to facilitate the process of self-development of different individuals by become involved with agricultural activities for their long-term benefits. The primary focus is placed to the coastal-belt starting from Bentota to Negambo lagoon (i.e., Kaluthara, Colombo and Gampaha districts). However, these attempts are not restricted to those areas but available to cater the needs of the province in specific and the nation in general where they are appropriate. Our goal is to do the relief actions in rehabilitation and reconstruction of economic, social and environment damages caused by Tsunami disaster.
Two different damage sites of the Kaluthara District.
The Department invites Government, Non-Government (National and International), Private and Community-Based Organizations and concerned individuals to coordinate with us as appropriate please. You can make quarries to the above address please.
The following are ten fold attempts:
i) Training on small scale value-addition processes in food processing technology for
additional fish harvests.
Tailor-made training sessions can be organized at District Agricultural
Training Centres (DATC) as well as locations as appropriate.
ii) Establishment of mushroom cultivations as leisure activity in homesteads for psychological relief and additional income.
iii) Initiation of “Plant Protein Food Crop” cultivations in urban homesteads (Because appeared tendency in reduced fish consumption levels on ethical issues).
Legume crops can be reintroduced according to dietary preferences of household members.
iv) Introduction of few food crop cultivations by means of “Living Structures” to utilize the “Vertical Space” in land-restricted maisonettes to generate mental happiness and fitness.
Different types of agricultural techniques can be implemented in optimizing land
& airspace within this goal.
v) Expansion of home-gardening activities to establish proper mix of nutritious food security and mental happiness.
vi) Advise on home management and make use of “Efficient Fire-Wood stove” in order to reduce fire wood consumption of households.
vii) Providing access for “One Year – Vocational Agricultural Training (VAT)” course for the youth who passed G.C.E. (O.L.).
The course is designed to assist self-employment in agro-entrepreneurship
and priority will be given for those who affected Tsunami.
viii) Directions for Small & Medium scale Agro-Entrepreneurship and career guidance for sustainable development.
xi) Presentation of the “Family Business Garden (FBG)” concept and environmentally sustainable actions for new urban housing constructions.
The Concept of
FamilyBusinessGarden
will pave the way to restart the life
after Tsunami with
agro-psycho relief.
x) Opening accesses to work with competent authorities who are responsible in creating coastal “Urban Greener Environments” by integrating “Edible-Land Escapes” with salinity resistance food crops/trees.
Damaged coastal-sites could be converted to appropriate landscapes with suitable natural, edible,medicinal, forest or flower plants suited to different ecological situations.
Those who interested are cordially invited to take up! fix on !! join us !!!.