Day 27 - Irrigation wells

Farming practices in Pattiyawala rely on various water sources for irrigation purposes. In recent years, farmers have invested more in irrigation wells for lands that are not within the irrigation area of the man-made village tanks. Irrigation wells are much larger in diameter in comparison to dug wells used for daily water needs in the past and present. These irrigation wells have a relatively high investment cost, but that has not deterred farmers in the dry zone from constructing them. These wells have to be pre-approved by the relevant government authorities prior to construction but their demand in the dry zone of Sri Lanka continues to grow.

Many of the climate ‘smart’ interventions implemented or planned through donor-funded climate projects focus on supporting farmers with irrigation infrastructure. As a result, Pattiyawala and the neighbouring villages have been recipients of irrigation infrastructure such as wells in the recent past.

When I first arrived at the village, my host showed me a large hole filled with water on the ground on one of her cultivation plots and said that her plan is to build the walls of the well and complete the irrigation well with my support. Today, she started construction of her irrigation well, and it was a moment of relief for both of us. She needed to complete the construction before the 'Maha Kanna' (rainy season). It was an inspiring moment for me in the field as I observed and supported a woman farmer accomplish an essential component in ensuring the success of future cultivation cycles by increasing her resilience against water shortages.