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Indigenous Agricultural Systems in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka: Management Transformation Assessment and Sustainability

Author

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  • Nuwan Abeywardana

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

  • Brigitta Schütt

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

  • Thusitha Wagalawatta

    (Department of Archaeology, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka)

  • Wiebke Bebermeier

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The tank-based irrigated agricultural system in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka is one of the oldest historically evolved agricultural systems in the world. The main component of the system consists of a connected series of man-made tanks constructed in shallow valleys to store, convey and utilize water for paddy cultivation. Up to 10,000 tanks originating from the heydays of ancient kingdoms are still integrated in the current agricultural landscape. During the last two millennia, this indigenous system has undergone many changes in technological, management and socio-cultural norms. This research aimed to analyze the current management practices and existing indigenous aspects of the Dry Zone irrigated agricultural system from the viewpoint of farmers who are the main stakeholders of the system. Altogether, 49 semi-structured interviews were conducted in seven villages in the Anuradhapura district and a detailed survey was conducted in the village of Manewa with a mixed research approach. The basic elements of the indigenous landscape, agricultural practices and management structures based on Farmer Organizations were mapped and examined in detail. The analysis of results shows that the sustainability of the indigenous agricultural system is vulnerable to rapid changes due to modernization, market changes, education levels, and inconsistent management decisions. The case study demonstrates the value of preserving indigenous agricultural systems and the negative outcomes of current management interventions that neglect the indigenous system. Therefore, careful interventions and innovations are needed to adapt the tank-based indigenous agricultural system of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka so as to preserve ecological and socio-economic sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Nuwan Abeywardana & Brigitta Schütt & Thusitha Wagalawatta & Wiebke Bebermeier, 2019. "Indigenous Agricultural Systems in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka: Management Transformation Assessment and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:910-:d:204790
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Weerahewa, Jeevika & Timsina, Jagadish & Wickramasinghe, Chamali & Mimasha, Sithuni & Dayananda, Dasuni & Puspakumara, Gamini, 2023. "Ancient irrigation systems in Asia and Africa: Typologies, degradation and ecosystem services," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    6. Kanthilanka, H. & Ramilan, T. & Farquharson, R.J. & Weerahewa, J., 2023. "Optimal nitrogen fertilizer decisions for rice farming in a cascaded tank system in Sri Lanka: An analysis using an integrated crop, hydro-nutrient and economic model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Kulasinghe, Tharindu Nuwan & Dharmakeerthi, Randombage Saman, 2022. "Effects of land use type and tank components on soil properties and sustainability of tank cascade system in the Dry Zone of north central Sri Lanka," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    8. Chunjiang An & Mengfan Cai & Christophe Guy, 2020. "Rural Sustainable Environmental Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-5, August.
    9. Sirimanna, S. & Kahathuduwa, K.K.P.N. & Prasada, D.V.P., 2022. "Are cascade reservoir systems sustainable agroecosystems? A comparative assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and resource footprint in a Sri Lankan micro-cascade," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    10. Karalliyadda, S.M.C.B. & Kazunari, Tsuji & Fujimura, Miho, 2023. "Managing rain-fed uplands of cascaded tank village systems: What stakeholders really suggest?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    11. Chamila Kumari Chandrasiri & Takuji W. Tsusaka & Tien D. N. Ho & Farhad Zulfiqar & Avishek Datta, 2023. "Impacts of climate change on paddy yields in different climatic zones of Sri Lanka: a panel data approach," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 455-489, June.
    12. Sujith S. Ratnayake & Azeem Khan & Michael Reid & Punchi B. Dharmasena & Danny Hunter & Lalit Kumar & Keminda Herath & Benjamin Kogo & Harsha K. Kadupitiya & Thilantha Dammalage & Champika S. Kariyawa, 2022. "Land Use-Based Participatory Assessment of Ecosystem Services for Ecological Restoration in Village Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.
    13. Sujith S. Ratnayake & Lalit Kumar & Punchi B. Dharmasena & Harsha K. Kadupitiya & Champika S. Kariyawasam & Danny Hunter, 2021. "Sustainability of Village Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka: Exploring Cascade Anatomy and Socio-Ecological Nexus for Ecological Restoration Planning," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, September.
    14. Gavin Melles & Ethmadalage Dineth Perera, 2020. "Resilience Thinking and Strategies to Reclaim Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Cascade Tank-Village System (CTVS) in Sri Lanka," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, October.

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