Potato cultivation a boon in Ampara District [Daily Mirror]

Daily Mirror, Tuesday 27 February 2007
by M.I.M.S. Anwar - Kalmunai Correspondent

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A kilo of potatoes recently fetched an unprecedented price of rupees 1,500/- (one thousand five hundred) at a ceremonial auction to boost potato farmers in Barakath Nagar and Illukatchenai in Akkaraipattu area. Minister of Housing and Common Amenities Ferial Ashraff was the chief guest of the ceremony.

Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership organization that undertook development projects in Ampara District refuted the conclusion of Sri Lankan authorities that Ampara district is not suitable for potato cultivation. An expert in potato cultivation from Prince Edward Island, Canada who is drawing up a master development plan for Ampara District proved potato grows well in the district after research. Potato cultivation in Barakath Nagar, Waangamam, Malwatte, Central Camp, and Uhana in Ampara District under his supervision was a success and the farmers reaped a bumper harvest.

Minister Ferial Ashraff, who visited the district on the invitation of the president of CASP Douglas MacArthur, declared open an Information Technology Centre in Akkaraipattu and a Gender Centre of the Oluvil Campus of the South Eastern University funded by the CIDA. Addressing the meeting at Maruthamuni, the minister highlighted the community services of CASP to provide monetary aid machinery and technical knowledge.

She told the media that CASP unlike other organizations is drawing a master plan for sustainable developments in the district. The Minister said, "In the past, ministers and members of parliament launched development projects without planning to meet the requirements of the people. However, President Mahinda Rajapakse's Mahinda Chinthana
programme has emphasized on planning for development. CASP's master plan for Ampara district is intended to meet this requirement."

She further said that she is pleased to work with the Canadian NGO that complies with the requirements of the government and ensures transparency in its dealings.

Potato cultivation pilot project a success at Ampara [Daily Mirror]

Daily Mirror, Monday 26 February 2007
from K.N. Tharmalingham

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The first trial cop of potatoes at Akkaraipattu was successfully grown at Illukuchenai, with Canadian aid channelled through Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership in partnership with CIDA, and local expertise provided by the Department of Agriculture, Ampara. The first crop was successfully harvested recently.

Mrs. Ferial Ashraff, MP (Dighamadulla) Minister of Housing and Common Amenities inaugurated the harvesting of crop with Islamic religious observances. Messers Nimal Dayaratne, Deputy Director Agriculture, Calvin Piggott, representing CIDA, Douglas MacArthur, President of CASP, religious dignitaries, and government officials participated at the ceremony.

Two varieties of potatoes 'Granola' the white variety, and 'Oseiree' the red variety were cultivated at the trial plots at Barakkathnagar in Irakkamam. The programme commenced in November last year.

Farmers in the area told the 'Daily Mirror' that a packet of seed potatoes tuber supplied the need for thirty beds and each bed yielded nearly 900 grams of quality potatoes. The yields were very encouraging the farmers said.

Minister Mrs. Ashraff in her speech thanked the Canadian donors who supported the project and the officials who successfully helped to implement the project. She said the success of the project would encourage others to take to agriculture.

She said Ampara had been a major paddy producing region under the Senanayake Samudra and pointed out that while paddy had been successful in the past, today it was not profitable owing to problems connected with marketing, storage, pest and disease control. She stressed that fluctuating prices had discouraged many from cultivating paddy.

Islamic Relief provides school supplies for fatherless children

Islamic Relief has distributed Rs. 1500 worth of school equipment as part of its Education & Orphan Project – Education Package Implementation 2007.

The aim of this project is to develop the education of children of all communities who have lost their fathers. In this instance, supplies were provided to three hundred fatherless children in areas from Akkaraipattu to Periyaneelavanai from the Lasthakeer International School Hall in Nintavur on the 7th of February 2007.

Islamic Relief started this programme in April 2006 and has sponsored 145 fatherless children since then, with a budget of Rs. 10,500 quarterly for their education. On an earlier occasion Islamic Relief had also provided assistance to tsunami affected students with Rs.2000 worth of goods.

Rebuild Ampara Video - Episode 4

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Episode 4 of the quarterly Rebuild Ampara videos continues our focus on the efforts of NGOs in the tsunami-ravaged Ampara District of Sri Lanka, along with presenting interviews of government agents and others. Topics include education, gender issues, livelihoods, and more.

For more info please visit RebuildAmpara.com.

Islamabath Environmental Impact Assessment

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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KALMUNAI – During a full day tour of Ampara District, Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities, made a brief visit to the Islamabath dumpsite in Kalmunai. The purpose of the visit was to note that an Environmental Impact Assessment involving the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) has just been completed, and there is a proposal in place to relocate the dumpsite to an environmentally better location outside the Municipality and to clean up the existing dumpsite at Islamabath, as it is a major health hazard.

In addition to Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) identifying the need to remedy the existing dumpsite and to improve solid waste management in Kalmunai, there has been strong support from USAid to do so, including funding of the recent Environmental Impact Assessment.

Minister Ashraff announced that she is hopeful that within the next several weeks, funding will be in place to relocate the existing dump and to restore the current site to an environmentally acceptable standard. This will provide great benefit to Kalmunai and particularly to the residents and school children in the immediate area of the existing dump. There are also plans for a community awareness program so that residents become more aware and responsible for the way they manage solid wastes generated in their homes and community.

Part of CASP’s role in undertaking the Ampara District Master Plan has been to identify gaps in the reconstruction work others are undertaking and to find ways of addressing and correcting such gaps. Kalmunai solid waste management is an example of such a gap that appears to be well on its way to being corrected.

Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan. CASP’s activities under the Master Plan are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District.

Handloom Demonstration Project

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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MARUTHAMUNAI – Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities today announced that the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) will undertake a major Demonstration Project to develop and enhance the handloom industry in Ampara District. The project will include the following elements:

• Creation of a Centre of Excellence, which will include showroom facilities, for production and marketing of handloom goods produced in Ampara District.
  
• Modernization of product dyeing facilities through equipment acquisition and appropriate environmental measures.
  
• Provision of management advisory services by CASP to assist business development of the handloom sector, including:
  • quality control in the production process;
    
  • finance support through micro credit programs;
    
  • export market development initiatives;
    
  • technology transfer and training programs for workers and management in the handloom industry.

The CASP Demonstration Project for the Handloom Industry will include a number of local partners including: Maruthamunai Development Company (Peoples) Ltd., Pesum Nilayam People’s Co Ltd, and other handloom businesses and stakeholders.

Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan. CASP’s activities under the Master Plan are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District.

Gender Centre at South Eastern University

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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OLUVIL, AMPARA DISTRICT – Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities, together with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Vice Chancellor of South Eastern University today officially opened the new CASP Gender Centre at South Eastern University. The project has been undertaken by the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) and South Eastern University to increase gender awareness and equity in Ampara District and beyond.

The Gender Centre is housed in a dedicated building on campus. It has a mandate to assist with gender based curriculum development at South Eastern University, also to undertake gender related research and to play a leading role at the community level in promoting gender awareness and equity. Part of CASP’s funding support includes up to 20 small gender based projects to be undertaken at the community level throughout the District in areas such as increased employment opportunities for women, increasing knowledge of women’s rights, enabling women to play a greater role in the political process, etc.

Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan. CASP’s activities under the Master Plan are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District.

Computer/Training Centre Opening

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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AKKARAIPATTU – A major and state-of-the-art computer and training centre for the Akkaraipattu area was officially opened today by Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities, officials from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and by CASP. On hand was a large number of dignitaries, plus many new members of the CASP Computer and Training Centre. In fact, more than 500 area residents of all ages have already signed up to use the computer and training facility.

The project has been planned and implemented, and is being managed, by the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) as a CASP Demonstration Project under the Ampara District Master Plan. The facility contains 20 new computers and support equipment, plus high speed Internet access to instantly link computer users to the world. The facility can be used by local residents simply wishing to access the Internet for their own personal reasons or can be used as a training venue to upgrade computer skills of school leavers, public and private sector officials, and others in need of enhanced computer expertise. The facility also houses a separate large training room and other break-out rooms that can be used for English language training and/or for seminars or workshops in agriculture and many other sectors.

Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan. CASP’s activities under the Master Plan are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District.

The CASP Computer and Training Centre is expected to make a major contribution to the upgrading of computer and other skills needed by Akkaraipattu area residents for employment, communications, and other information purposes. It will enhance livelihoods opportunities for the community and serve as an excellent Demonstration Project, which can be replicated in other centres of Ampara District.

Master Plan First Year Anniversary

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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AMPARA TOWN – Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities, together with senior officials from her Ministry, and representation from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) visited the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership’s (CASP’s) main Ampara District Master Plan office today to recognize completion of the first year of CASP’s Ampara District Master Plan project.

After CASP signed an MOU with the Ministry of Housing and Ministerial Task Force in June 2005 to undertake the Ampara District Master Plan, funding for the project was sought and received from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The project began on January 10, 2006, with the Ampara Town office in place in February of that year as CASP’s main project site in the District to undertake Master Plan activities. Additional offices were soon opened in Kalmunai and Akkaraipattu, and these have been followed by a number of Demonstration Project sites throughout Ampara District.

As CASP now has the second year of its activities well underway, it is working with many donors, International Non Government Organizations, local NGOs and CBOs and is receiving ongoing support and direction from the Government of Sri Lanka. Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan, and CIDA is providing ongoing funding support for CASP’s activities. The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District.

Potato Trial Demonstration Project

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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SIX MILE POST, AMPARA DISTRICT – Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities, together with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), today witnessed the successful harvest of a Potato Trial Demonstration Project in Ampara District. The project has been undertaken by the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) by planting seed potatoes in five locations in Ampara District in early December to determine the potential for potato production in the District.

The CASP demonstration project for potato production has proven that potatoes can indeed grow successfully in Ampara District. CASP identified a number of local farmers who planted the potatoes in small plots (typically 20 m x 20 m). CASP, together with the Department of Agriculture, closely monitored the planting, growing, and harvesting process to ensure best possible management and technical support for the farmers involved.

These CASP potato trials were the first of their kind in Ampara District in more than 15 years and results have been beyond expectation. However, there is considerable additional research and other initiatives to be taken before potatoes can be a significant cash crop for the farmers of Ampara District. CASP and the Department of Agriculture have closely monitored all aspects of the project and are now preparing a report on the results, next steps, etc.

The benefits of commercial potato production in Ampara District include:

• Reduced dependence on rice production for area farmers.
• A new cash crop with rates of return for farmers significantly higher than most other crops.
• Replacement of large quantities of imported potatoes by locally grown potatoes to be consumed by the 600,000 people of Ampara District.
• Significant new livelihoods opportunities in potato production, processing, and marketing.

Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan. CASP’s activities under the Master Plan are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District, with agriculture and fisheries being priority economic sectors.

Rebuild Ampara Video Ep. 4 to launch later this week!

The fourth episode of the Rebuild Ampara Videos will be launched later this week. Participants include:

• Zonal Director of Education – Kalmunai
  
• Additional Government Agent for the area
  
• Helvetas
  
• Sewalanka
  
• ActionAid
  
• SOND
  
• and more!

Episodes can be viewed in the Videos section of the RebuildAmpara.com homepage, as well as on Google Video and Blip.tv.

Norwegian Refugee Council reconstructs two schools in Akkaraipattu

The Norwegian Refugee Council has reconstructed two primary schools in the tsunami-devastated areas of Akkaraipattu. The schools were declared open at a function on February 6th by chief guest Ragnar Drevvatne, Project Coordinator of the School Reconstruction Project for the Norwegian Refugee Council.Principal S.L. Raheem of Ak/Sir Razeek Fareed Viddyalaya said that his school, which has 65 children studying from grades 1 to 5, was very badly damaged in the tsunami. The cost of reconstruction was 4.6 million rupees, which includes the school, boundary wall, water supply, and other amenities.

The second school, Ak/Samsul Uloom Viddyalaya with Principal Ms. Saliha Abdul Gaffoor and 250 students taught by eight teachers, also suffered severe damages and cost 14.1 million rupees to reconstruct.

Master Plan handed over [Sunday Observer]

Sunday Observer, 4 February 2007

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A master plan of the Ampara District Development project Director - Canadian Agro–Sustainability Partnership, Douglas MacArthur, was handed over to Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ms. Ferial Ashraff recently. Secretary of the Housing Ministry Mrs. Malika Karunaratne is also in the picture.