a water-secure world IWMI in sri lanka

a water-secure world IWMI in sri lanka

IWMI what we do Cover A farmer adjusts a sprinkler in Kalpitiya. Saaliya Thilakartne/IWMI. 2 OUR role The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and partners help shape the global water agenda. Our research provides policymakers with the evidence needed to sustainably manage water and land resources for food security, people s livelihoods and the environment. IWMI is a non-profit scientific research organization that is a member of CGIAR, an international consortium of agricultural research centers. OUR expertise Driving innovative research and generating ideas for solutions. Providing science-based products and tools. Facilitating learning, strengthening capacity and achieving uptake of research findings. Establishment of IWMI IWMI was formally established as the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) by an Act of Parliament in 1985, with its headquarters near Kandy. It moved to Pelawatte in 1992, and was officially recognized as the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in 2000. OUR Staff More than one-third of IWMI s 300 staff are based in Sri Lanka, where 100 national staff work in the areas of scientific research and leadership, technical support, knowledge management and communications, accounting and finance, human resources and administration. IWMI has awarded and supported over 30 PhD and MSc scholarships to students in Sri Lanka. Short-term internships have also been offered to graduate and postgraduate students. Eight Sri Lankan staff members have performed duties as the Head of IWMI offices overseas. Testing a locally-developed weather station that can be connected to the mobile phone network, at IWMI headquarters. Neil Palmer/IWMI.

our work in sri lanka groundwater 3 lagoons and wetlands WASTEWATER CLIMATE CHANGE: MANAGING RISK Water quality and public health SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

supporting sustainable growth A commercial flower farm in Piliyandala, which uses a water efficient irrigation system. Neil Palmer/IWMI. how our research can help GROUNDWATER Wells have always been important to farmers, but with the advent of cheap new pumps, groundwater extraction has rocketed. This can affect water availability and quality. For example, in Jaffna, where groundwater is the main source of water for irrigation, overuse is leading to increased salinity in some areas. IWMI and its partners are mapping groundwater and its use across the island to improve the sustainable management of this vital resource. By monitoring trends, whilst exploring options for water conservation and storage, it is hoped that groundwater management can become more firmly established as a national and regional concern. LAGOONS and WETLANDS Sri Lanka s coastal lagoons and wetlands teem with wildlife and attract thousands of enthusiasts every year. But they are also valuable resources for local communities, providing fish, flowers and opportunities for aquaculture. As the island develops, pressure on these vital ecosystems will increase. IWMI is part of a consortium of local partners that has catalogued the country s lagoons for the first time. This work will help develop the best management practices for local communities to ensure these natural assets are used sustainably.

Testing compost made from treated waste in Kurunegala. Hamish John Appleby/IWMI. WASTEWATER Only a very small proportion of Sri Lankans are connected to modern sewerage systems; the remainder make use of on-site facilities such as septic tanks or latrines. While these systems can provide perfectly adequate sanitation, safe collection and disposal of the septage they hold remains a challenge. This waste is rich in nutrients and, if properly processed to minimize the risks to human health, can make valuable fertilizer. IWMI is working with central government agencies and local councils around the country to find ways of reclaiming these nutrients and reusing them. One project is turning the waste into safe, nutritious fertilizer pellets for farmers. CLIMATE CHANGE: MANAGING RISK As our climate changes, we are likely to see more variability in water supply. Floods and droughts are projected to become more common. To help deal with this, we will need to expand water storage capacity, including making renewed use of ancient tanks, and plan flood mitigation strategies. IWMI researchers mapped the likely consequences of climate change, and these findings have contributed to the development of Sri Lanka s first national climate change adaptation strategy. Our continuing work using the latest in satellite remote sensing will help inform future investment decisions in relation to managing floods and droughts. See page 6. 5 Water quality and public health Sri Lanka has a notably high incidence of kidney disease. The causes are not completely understood (hence the medical term: chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology or CKDu), although contaminated water may be a factor. IWMI is working with local and international partners to better assess what the risk factors may be in the hope that preventive measures can ultimately be taken. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE As new markets for agricultural products emerge, IWMI looks beyond simple water management to consider the socioeconomic factors that are driving changes in the farming sector. We are working towards establishing best practices to ensure that Sri Lanka s agricultural boom is both sustainable and equitable. This includes our globally influential studies on community management of water resources.

sri lanka drought risk map JAFFNA no data 6 KILINOCHCHI MULLAITIVU very low low medium high MANNAR VAVUNIYA ANURADHAPURA trincomalee very high IWMI s expertise in remote sensing and computer modeling allows it to produce detailed maps that can help planners respond to a changing climate. This example shows how different districts of Sri Lanka might be affected by drought in the future. For more maps and information on Sri Lanka s water resources visit the country s first freely-available online water data tool: waterdata.iwmi.org PUTTALAM polonnaruwa BATTICALOA KURUNEGALA MATALE kandy AMPARA KEGALLE GAMPAHA BADULLA COLOMBO NUWARA ELIYA Moneragala KALUTARA RATNAPURA GALLE MATARA Hambantota

30 years of research in sri lanka 7

Chilies grown using drip irrigation in North Central Province. Neil Palmer/IWMI. Location IWMI is headquartered in Pelawatte, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, with offices across Asia and Africa. Budget and donors IWMI s annual budget is approximately USD 38 million. Main donors include governments, foundations, multilateral organizations and the private sector. Our principal partners in Sri Lanka Ministry of Irrigation Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry of Disaster Management Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply Department of Irrigation Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture (Western Province) Department of Agrarian Development Water Resources Board National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (MASL) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Kandy The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) Lanka Jalani Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna National Science Foundation Natural Resources Management Centre, Department of Agriculture Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board Dialog Axiata Plc Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) Department of Meteorology Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS) North Western Provincial Council Kurunegala Municipal Council Survey Department IWMI headquarters and Regional Office for Asia 127 Sunil Mawatha, Pelawatte, Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka Tel +94 11 2880000, 2784080 fax +94 11 2786854 email iwmi@cgiar.org www.iwmi.org