On-farm water management project

Project success varied by component activity from near total to only minimal. Research was hampered by a lack of Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) counterparts. Progress in developing land preparation and leveling methodologies was excellent and progress in using graded terraces with furrowed basins and graded furrows for irrigation was good. Some progress was made in crop/soil management and ground water hydrology research, but little was accomplished in farm demonstration and training activities, surface water hydrology research, water balance studies (still continuing), and structures and flow measurement activities. The success of data collection activities also varied - reports were prepared on 8 of the project's 15 special research subprojects (an additional report is in draft form), but only two seasonal reports on on-farm research activities at the Kalankuttiya farm were completed. Further, since the termination of A.I.D. TA in 9/82, little has been done to implement recommendations made in the mid-term evaluation to continue research work at Kalankuttiya, thus confirming the conclusion drawn in the first evaluation that the GSL was not adequately commited to the project, the purpose of which - farmer adoption of improved water management technologies - was not achieved. The project taught the need to: (1) evaluate the availability and commitment of research staff and tailor the project to the latter as supplemented by TA; (2) refocus the project when staffing problems occur; (3) report on research results in a timely manner; (4) thoroughly investigate the capabilities of research organizations and avoid parallel and duplicate efforts; (5) supplement basic research with follow-up and outreach activities in order to provide farmers with viable alternatives to traditional rice cultivation systems; (6) maintain close collaboration with related agencies - in this case, the Department of Agriculture's Research and Extension Division.