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Ampara District Master Plan Completed

David Boyce presents the completed Master Plan to Madame Ferial Ashraff, Minister for Housing and Common Amenities. Looking on is Mr. Calvin Piggott (far right) First Secretary of Development, Canadian High Commission Sri Lanka

You may download the Ampara District Master Plan document from the Rebuild Ampara website.

The Master Plan was written with the assistance of the people of Ampara District and the levels of government that represent them. It is intended to be a framework, to guide the development of the district, allowing the residents to lead a more prosperous and sustainable lifestyle while respecting ethnicity, culture, religion, and gender. The plan should guide the investments of donor agencies, NGOs, and CBOs to bring about cohesive development rather than a piece meal or ad hoc collection of projects.

Objectives
The Ampara District Master Plan is to be a guide, a living document, for the comprehensive development of the district carrying through a 20-25 year time frame. The following general objectives for the Master Plan were established by the Government of Sri Lanka. They are as follows:

1. Improve socio-economic conditions while protecting the environment
2. Restructure district economy in line with its resources
3. Promote development of agriculture, fisheries, tourism, industry, and ports
4. Enhance economic growth in rural areas
5. Improve inter and intra district mobility
6. Create an environment to attract private sector investment
7. Enhance social harmony and equity

The Master Plan Development Process
In the spring of 2005, the government of Sri Lanka issued a call for proposals to develop the Master Plan for Ampara District. CASP responded to that call, and signed a MOU with the Sri Lankan Government in June 2005 with the Ministry of Housing and Construction under Minister Ferial Ashraff, the Senior Minister for Ampara District.

As part of the agreement, CASP sought funding to support the development of the Master Plan. This support was generously provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with an agreement signed in January 2006. In February 2006, CASP opened three offices (Ampara, Kalmunai and Akkaraipattu) and began to hire the staff and specialists that would assist in the completion of the Master Plan. By June, the staff size had grown to 35 individuals playing a number of direct and support functions.

During the process to develop the Master Plan, CASP utilized foreign specialists, interviewed many groups, and individuals, and reviewed previously published documents to obtain the relevant information for the Master Plan CASP began a process of utilizing local advisory committees in various sectors, such as agriculture to guide the development of the work. The committees represented a cross section of the industry. Members provided their views about issues that needed to be addressed and possible solutions. The local advisory committees met several times during the course of the Master Plan process.

Communication has been an important part of the process, and CASP has utilized many forms of media, to keep the local public informed about the Master Plan progress. CASP employed a media team in its Akkaraipattu office that had responsibility for developing the content of various releases. The primary outlet for stories was the website www.rebuildampara.com. All materials, including video (also distributed on DVD), were uploaded to the website. Stories of progress from other NGO/INGOs were also part of the website. Each Sunday CASP hosted a Tamil language radio show also called "Rebuild Ampara", also available through the website.

In March 2007, CIDA engaged a consultant to provide an independent review of CASP's work on the Master Plan, to evaluate progress, and assess the effectiveness of the work The consultant's report indicated that some government staff based in the district felt that they had not been properly consulted. To rectify the situation, CASP hosted a number of workshops to engage government staff and civilian society. In July 2007, the GA for Ampara District issued a letter of invitation to government employees to attend a series of workshops on the Master Plan. Similar invitations were issued to CBOs, NGOs and INGOs. A series of 16 workshops were held covering each of the Master Plan topics with two hosted for the topic of gender.

In addition to a planning process, CASP initiated several demonstration projects to show progress and demonstrate techniques that could be advanced through the Master Plan. The demonstration projects supported by CASP included:

1. Handloom Centre of Excellence
2. Biogas Digester at the Hardy Institute
3. Gender Studies Centre at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
4. Computer, Business, and English language training centre in Akkaraipattu
5. Potato demonstration trials (5 locations)

You may download the Ampara District Master Plan document from the Rebuild Ampara website.

          

David Boyce helps make a difference in tsunami stricken Sri Lanka (February 13, 2008 - Source: Eastern Graphic)

Handing over a copy of the Master Plan to the Government Agent (GA) for Ampara District, Mr. Sunil Kannangara.

For the past thirty years, the east and the north have been the subject of conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) who wish to secede from the rest of the country to create their own homeland. In 2002 the Norwegian government brokered a ceasefire and directly after the tsunami the hostilities subsided. In 2005 both sides engaged each other in sporadic conflict and in January 2008 the government unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement stating that the LTTE was using the ceasefire to rearm. The movement of people from areas of heavy fighting to relatively calm parts of the country has seen another 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) enter camps in Ampara District.

Municipality of Akkaraipattu, Sri Lanka Photo credit M.A. Phakurdeen, Addalaichenai group correspondent.

January brought the onset of the northeast monsoonal season and with it too frequent and too heavy rains that caused flooding in many places affecting 66,000 families. The millions of dollars in aid and assistance over the past three years has made some difference but more to get citizens to where they were prior to the tsunami. There are still thousands impacted by thirty years of conflict. The government provides security but has little capacity to provide much more. Investment is virtually non-existent and planning is short term move from crisis to crisis.

Southern road to Pottuvil, Sri Lanka Photo credit M.A. Phakurdeen, Addalaichenai group correspondent.

David Boyce working with a Charlottetown company called the Canadian Agro-Sustainability Partnership has been working over the last 18 months to prepare a Master Plan for the district that sets out a plan for the next 20-25 years. "Minister Ashraff was the driving force behind getting the plan completed," says Mr. Boyce. "It was her vision that the people should move from short-term recovery to long-term relief." In December Mr. Boyce presented the completed Master Plan to Minister Ashraff and her advisors. The plan is all encompassing to look at economic, social and environmental sectors. ""Since Ampara District is one of the largest agricultural regions in Sri Lanka, it is only fitting that CASP use its Canadian expertise to assist the people with long-term development," says Mr. Boyce. "What is even more exciting is that the minister has asked CASP to be the body to coordinate and implement the plan." Mr. Boyce has been working on site full time in Ampara since the beginning of December and will continue to lead efforts there for the next few months.

          

CASP part of China-Canada Agriculture Development Program (June 2007)

CASP is working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to implement two of the three components of the China-Canada Agriculture Development Program, specifically, the Small Farmers Adapting to a Global Marketplace Project and the Sustainable Agriculture Development Program.

CASP will be working in the provinces of Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan, and Xinjiang to conduct environmental impact assessments of the demonstration projects, introduce the concept of environmental farm plans, develop a local environmental network among the agriculture community, establish a monitoring and evaluation framework for the project, and mainstream environmental issues in the work plan for the projects.

          

CASP Demonstration Projects in Sri Lanka: Gender Centre, Potato Trials, Computer/Training Centre, Handloom Excellence (March 2007)

In addition to its earlier work on the Hardy Biogas Project, CASP has completed a variety of demonstration projects in association with its work on the Ampara District Master Plan. These projects have received great media attention and CASP was privileged to have several of these visited by federal Sri Lankan Minister Ferial Ashraff.

CASP's Gender Centre at South Eastern University has a mandate to assist with gender-based curriculum development at South Eastern University, 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 twenty small gender-based projects to be undertaken at the community level throughout Ampara 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, and other important areas.

As part of its efforts to bring computer and technical facilities and training to the area, CASP has also opened the Akkaraipattu Computer and Training Centre. This facility contains twenty new computers and support equipment, plus high speed Internet access to instantly link computer users to the world. The Centre can be used by local residents wishing to access the Internet for their own personal reasons or as a training venue to upgrade computer skills for public and private sector workers and others in need of enhanced computer expertise. The facility also houses a separate large training room and other break-out rooms that used for English language training and for seminars/workshops in agriculture and other sectors.

In order to help diversify the agricultural production in Ampara District, which is dominated by decreasingly profitable rice paddy production, CASP has also undertaken a highly successful potato cultivation pilot project. Two varieties of potatoes, 'Granola', a white variety, and 'Oseiree', a red variety, were cultivated at the trial plots at Barakkathnagar in Irakkamam and gained great praise from locals and government officials alike.

Finally, a Handloom Demonstration Project has also commenced. This will include the creation of a Centre of Excellence, modernization of product dyeing facilities through equipment acquisition and appropriate environmental measures, and provision of management advisory services by CASP to assist business development of the handloom sector.

Details on these stories and more, including local media coverage, can be found at the Rebuild Ampara Project Blog.

          

Workshop on 'Quality Seed Paddy Production' (January 11, 2007 - Source: Daily News by M.A. Phakurdeen)

ADDALAICHENAI: In order to provide a comprehensive knowledge on seed paddy production to the farmers who produce seed paddy in the district, a workshop 'Quality Seed Paddy Production' was held at CASP's Computer Training Centre in Akkaraipattu recently.

The Workshop sponsored by 'CASP' (Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership) was organized by Akkaraipattu Seed Paddy Producers. CASP's Project Co-Director Victor Petrescu, the chief guest at this programme, declared open the Workshop which was presided over by M.I.M. Nazeer, the officer in charge of the Malwatte Seed Certification Unit, Malwatte.

Asst. Director (Seed Paddy) H.M.J.K. Herath, Asst. Directors (Extensions) A.R.A. Latheef and M.S.A.Kalees were present here as resource personnel and delivered lectures on Producing Quality Seed Paddy, Usages of Straw as fertilizer in paddy fields, seed certification process, and paddy field inspection.

Problems confronted by the Seed Paddy Producers and the solutions were also discussed at the conclusion of the Workshop.

QUALITY SEED PADDY PRODUCTION: A one-day training programme for selected farmers on "Training for Quality Seed Paddy Production" sponsored by CASP (Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership) was organized by Akkaraipattu Seed Paddy Producers Society members at CASP's Computer Training Centre recently. Here, CASP's Project Co-Director Victor Petrescu is lighting the traditional oil lamp to inaugurate the workshop. OIC Malwatte Seed Certification Service M.I.M. Nazeer and President of the Society N. Nadarajah were also present.

          

Sri Lankan agriculture reps eye PEI for major program (September 16, 2006 - Source: The Guardian by Jim Day)

The PEI agriculture sector is ready and able to tackle lucrative development projects in Sri Lanka, said an official from that tsunami-ravaged country. Dr. Gerry Jayawardena, a consultant to the Sri Lnakan minister of agriculture, told The Guardian that Prince Edward Island has plenty to offer his country in agriculture expertise.

Earlier this week, Jayawardena and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Agricultural Development Chamal Rajapaske were viewing the Island’s agricultural facilities, technologies and other aspects of PEI agriculture which can be relevant to Sri Lankan agriculture development. The visit was on the heels of Island-based Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) reaching an agreement to provide Sri Lanka a comprehensive “one-stop shop” of agricultural services, including farm production, food processing, farm equipment and facilities.

The Sri Lankan delegation is impressed with what PEI has to offer. “We are fully convinced that you have the capacity and the necessary institutional arrangement to handle a huge project in Sri Lanka,” he said. Jayawardena said an initial project could be worth about $6million with the potential to expand to between $10 million and $15 million. He said Sri Lanka’s agricultural and fishery sectors were both seriously affected by the devastating Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami.

Jayawardena said his country could benefit by tapping into PEI’s more advanced research, food safety practices and agricultural technology. “What we have seen here after visiting PEI is that there are many institutional arrangements here to help the agricultural production and marketing in PEI,” he said.

CASP president Doug MacArthur said prospective development work was getting “firmed up” during the Sri Lankan delegation that was here for three days. “We’re talking things like Island producers going over to Sri Lanka and working with the Sri Lankan dairy industry to show farmers there how to improve there dairy practices,” said MacArthur. “We’re talking about a demonstration project for potatoes in an area that has never grown potatoes before. We’re talking things like food safety in a big way.”

MacArthur said the tsunami, while a major disaster, resulted in unprecedented global donations that leaves Sri Lanka able to afford to buy goods and services the country never could have even considered before the tsunami hit. “There’s as many projects over there as you can imagine,” he said. “The big thing they are looking for is good project management and good projects.”

MacArthur said he would be amazed if PEI did not enjoy at least $5 million to $10 million in direct economic benefits from agricultural development work in Sri Lanka in 2007. “And the potential for it to grow after that, I don’t think there is much of a limit.”

PHOTO (above left): Sri Lanka’s minister of agricultural development, Chamal Rajapaksa (far right) was given a tour of the PEI Vegetable Growers Co-op in Charlottetown Tuesday by plant general manager Don Read (middle right). The minister spent a few days earlier this week visiting agricultural facilities across the Island with Dr. Gerry Jayawardena (middle left) and Doug MacArthur (far left).

          

Sri Lankan officials view PEI agriculture (September 13, 2006 - Source: The Guardian)

Two Sri Lankan officials involved in the Asian country’s agriculture future are in the province until Wednesday. Chamal Jayanatha Rajapaksa, the minister of agricultural development for Sri Lanka, and his consultant, Dr. S.D.G. Jayawardene, are viewing PEI’s agricultural facilities, technologies and other aspects of the Island’s agriculture which can be relevant to Sri Lankan agricultural development.

Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc., based in PEI and headed by Douglas MacArthur, has reached an agreement with Sri Lanka’s ministry of agricultural development to provide a comprehensive “one-stop shop” of agricultural services, including farm production, food processing, farm equipment and facilities (e.g. temperature controlled storages), branding, international marketing, food quality/safety, and various other agricultural capabilities to Sri Lanka. These services will be available to the ministry in Colombo and for projects throughout Sri Lanka. Sunday, the minister was in western PEI. Monday and today they are in the Charlottetown area.

A news release says there are many agricultural opportunities for PEI in Sri Lanka which can be developed. Additionally, there are important international considerations ranging from agricultural marketing to food safety protocols which could benefit from PEI’s input.

          

PEI group helping Sri Lanka rebuild (August 31, 2006 - Source: The Guardian by Caitlin McIntyre)

Doug MacArthur has a master plan to help rebuilding efforts in tsunami-stricken Sri Lanka. MacArthur is president of the PEI-based group Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc., which in June completed a preliminary master plan report for a reconstruction project in Ampara District, Sri Lanka.

Last year, the Sri Lankan government chose CASP to create a 25-year plan to reconstruct the devastated area. Ampara District was the area hardest hit by the December 2004 tsunami, which caused the death of over 10,000 people and $600-million in property damage.

Sri Lankan Minister Ferial Ashraff met with MacArthur in PEI this week to discuss the plan and to negotiate an additional role for CASP in housing and community development in the country. Ashraff is the Minister of Housing and Construction Industries as well as the minister responsible for tsunami reconstruction in Ampara District.

The master plan, which CASP developed through partnerships with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and more than 100 donors and non-governmental organizations, is designed to improve all sectors in Ampara District, MacArthur said in an interview. He said the long-term plan will upgrade such sectors as housing, agriculture, health systems and education. With a total of $13.5-billion (US) donated for tsunami recovery efforts, the funds are available to implement an impact reconstruction plan.

“What makes this situation rather unique is that although Sri Lanka is rather a poor country, there was so much money donated (after) the tsunami that there’s not a scarcity of money for good projects,” MacArthur said.

Now it’s CASP’s responsibility to help the Sri Lankan government spend that money wisely. Currently, the company has 40 staff and four offices in Sri Lanka, and MacArthur said he hopes to send about 50 people to the country to help in relief efforts over the next several months.

Ashraff, who was the first Sri Lankan minister to visit this province, traveled the Island, making stops at Future Tech in O’Leary, North Cape wind project, and West Prince Ventures. Considering the similarities – economic bases in agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, as well as many small communities – shared by Prince Edward Island and Sri Lanka, it seemed appropriate for CASP to play a major role in rebuilding efforts, she said.

Over the next couple of years, MacArthur wants to expand the project to include 100-200 full-time staff members in the county and an additional two offices. Meanwhile, Ashraff spent the last day of her trip meeting with Premier Pat Binns, MacArthur said, adding that she asked him to support a stronger relationship between PEI and Sri Lanka now and in the future.

          

Senior Sri Lankan Minister visiting PEI (August 28, 2006 - Source: The Guardian)

The Sri Lankan minister of housing and construction industries, Ferial Ashraff, was on the Island on the weekend for meetings with Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership (CASP) Inc. Ashraff is a senior minister in the government of Sri Lanka. She is also the minister responsible for tsunami reconstruction in Ampara District, which suffered a loss of 10,000 lives and $600 million in property damage from the December 26, 2004, tsunami. CASP reports to Ashraff in its Ampara District master plan reconstruction activities.

While in PEI, Ashraff was scheduled to meet with CASP on the master plan and discuss an additional role proposed for CASP to facilitate housing and community development reconstruction in Sri Lanka. Today, the minister will travel to western PEI with CASP management to visit Future Tech in O’Leary, North Cape wind project, Tignish community co-ops and West Prince Ventures.

          

Islanders play major role in Tsunami Reconstruction (August 25, 2006 - Source: The Guardian)

A PEI – based group is playing an important role in the tsunami reconstruction effort in Sri Lanka. Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) has just completed its preliminary master plan report for Ampara District, Sri Lanka, and is moving ahead with the next steps in the major tsunami reconstruction project.

CASP’s president is Doug MacArthur of Charlottetown. In 2005, CASP was selected by the government of Sri Lanka to prepare a 20- to 25-year master plan for the reconstruction of Ampara District, the area of the country hardest hit by the December 26, 2004, tsunami, which caused the loss of over 10,000 lives and $600 million in property damage.

CASP signed a contribution agreement with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in early January 2006 and is working with more than 100 donors and international non-government organizations involved in the reconstruction effort. CASP’s role is to prepare the overall master plan, to identify gaps in programming and funding sources to fill the gaps, and to act as an implementing agency/project manager as required.

MacArthur is on location more than half time in Sri Lanka leading the effort, and many other islanders and other Canadians are working through CASP on various aspects of the project. The master plan CASP is preparing includes all sectors, with particular attention to agriculture, fisheries, tourism, health, housing, and education.

MacArthur said it’s great to see so many Islanders making a contribution and also earning income for their efforts. “This project is bringing millions of dollars to PEI and giving Islanders great credentials in international development”, said MacArthur.

CASP has four offices and 40 staff in Sri Lanka and has one of the largest oorganizations involved in tsunami reconstruction in that country. CASP vice-president Gary Morgan of Veterinary Management Services of O’Leary and Allan Parker of Parker Potato of Alberton are founding members of CASP and sit on the executive committee with MacArthur. Both Morgan and Parker have represented CASP in Sri Lanka and elsewhere around the world.

“The government of Sri Lanka , the donors and others are really pleased with the work we are doing, and many new projects and other opportunities are opening up,” Morgan said. “In additionto this being essential humanitarian work, it offers tremendous economic benefits to PEI”.

MacArthur said that CASP’s tsunami-related work is likely to grow much larger and will go on for many years. A total of $13.5 billion (US) was raised for tsunami recovery, and only a small percentage of that has been spent to date and there is much work to be done.

He points out that the opportunity and potential for CASP has been recognized from the outset by Island political leaders, such as MPs Shawn Murphy and Wayne Easter, Kevin MacAdam in his new federal role and provincial government.

PHOTO (middle right): Trudi Walker visits a handloom and basket weaving centre in the Ampara District in Sri Lanka. Walker is involved in tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka through Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc., a company based on PEI.

          

CASP signs MOU for Agricultural Development in Sri Lanka (May 2006)

On May 3, 2006, CASP and the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Sri Lanka signed a three-year, comprehensive MOU under which CASP will provide comprehensive agricultural and agro-industry advisory services for the development of the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. Activities include all aspects of agriculture and agro-industry and all regions of the country.
Objectives cited in the MOU include:

• Improve the living standards of farmers through economic development;
• Achieve self-sufficiency in basic and essential food commodities;
• Create employment opportunities for youth and other citizens who will enjoy a new and viable future in agriculture;
• Establish and maintain a beneficial rural way of life through holistic development at the village level;
• Ensure food, nutrition, and health security for the population through ample production at reasonable prices of essential food commodities such as rice, vegetables, fruits, chilies, and onions;
• Recycling of agri-waste/farm waste into animal feed and development of proper solid and liquid waste management systems in agricultural farms and in agro-based industrial areas/centres;
• Promotion of organic fertilizer among the farmers;
• Capacity building for scientists in the field of agricultural development, appropriate land use management, and in agro-based industries.

Activities under the MOU will be managed by a Management Committee co-chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Agricultural Development and by the President of CASP. The Ministry/CASP will each nominate two additional members for the Management Committee, and other representatives from either side may attend on an as-required basis.

          

More Embryo Transfer Calves Born in Russia (May 2006)

Dr. Gary Morgan, Executive Committee Member of CASP, and owner/operator of Veterinary Management Services, a CASP founding member company, has returned from Russia after overseeing the delivery of another set of embryo transfer calves born in Russia.

In the summer of 2004, CASP was awarded a contract through World Bank/IFC to provide consultation services to farms in the Dmitrov region of Russia. Genetic improvement was one of the priorities for the dairy farms in the project and this was addressed in two fashions. Frozen semen from some of Canada's top Holstein sires was introduced into the Artificial Insemination Program at Rogachevo Farm. Also, farmers in Prince Edward Island were contracted to provide embryos from their best cows for transportation to Russia and subsequent implantation into the domestic cow population.

In April 2005, the earlier efforts were rewarded with the birth of ten Canadian Holstein calves from the embryo transfer (ET) procedures. The five females and five males have become favourites at Rogachevo farm and were joined by a second group of ET calves born at the end of May. These calves represent the first calves born from embryo transfer in Russia in several decades and are the result of the first embryo importations from Canada in over twenty years. Calves created from Canadian semen are now being born and will represent a major step forward in the farm's genetic improvement goals.

The owners of Rogachevo Farm in Russia are very pleased with the progress made to date with improvements in herd productivity and profitability as a result of the CASP project. Milk production has doubled in the past two years and the farm is receiving bonuses for improved milk quality. The addition of superior Canadian genetics into the herd will escalate the gains in productivity that have been achieved to date. The Farm has a goal to supply Canadian breeding cattle to the Russian dairy market in future, with these young calves being the genetic pool from which the breeding herd will be developed.

          

CASP Expands its International Development Activities (May 2006)

CASP has decided to add a number of activities and countries to its roster in the coming months. Sri Lanka and Russia, two CASP priority countries, will see expanded activities beyond the major tsunami reconstruction project in Ampara District, Sri Lanka, and the current Dmitrov project at DokaGene farms in Russia. In Sri Lanka new activities will include a comprehensive three-year MOU for country-wide agro-industry development plus an agreement with Central Province, the largest and most diverse agricultural area in the country, to upgrade dairy, crops, and other agri-business. In Russia, CASP is well into the planning stage of Russian Centre of Excellence at DokaGene to include agricultural production, food processing, and food safety/quality.

CASP will continue to plan and develop projects in Serbia, Vietnam, Paraguay, and Ukraine. Additionally, CASP is in the early planning stages of projects in Mongolia and Kenya. More on these in the coming months.

          

For previous news, please consult the CASP News Archives.