Broken Tanks and Farmers Lives

Today we traveled from Kalmunai to Ampara. We passed several camps in Kalmunai, but we could not visit them as we wanted get to Ampara. On the way we observed the Malwatta Tank. The strong mud bund had been broken leaving a gap about 70m. The people had tried to release the water making a side cannel, but the water pressure was hard on the bund and and it broke, destroying paddy fields fed from the tank.

The water then flew and has inundated the Malwatta village, making all villages flee for life. It’s a short story with a long term impact. The villagers have lost their harvest, belongings at home. Dresses, books and what ever water can wash away.

We saw some surviving paddy plants, but there is no tank to feed water to them. They will eventually die a farmer said. The farmers have lost there cultivation. There won't be a harvest in may to celebrate new year. It is not possible for them to harvest again until the tank is repaired. An agriculture expert we met said that 48% of harvest in the area could be lost. This would be a huge impact on rice economy that we all are in.

As the rain continued for last two months till it becomes stronger on 10th January. This long raining has hindered generation of paddy bushes, hence produced less seeds from a single plant. This rain affected not only this area, but many parts of the island making a Sri Lanka a wet region for few days; hence paddy in those areas also could be affected.

This is only one of the 172 Tanks broken due to heavy rain and excess water they could not hold on. We think that this an example of climatic change and how resulting rain can create food shortages.

As a nation we need to consider that it’s our duty to look after these farmers who has lost their harvest as they have been feeding us for decades. Now they need food. A farmer said that all his reserves of rice for domestic use have been washed away. It is the farmers need rice now. Their families and children are in stress without food which did not happen before. These farmers donated truck loads of rice when tsunami was stuck. How ever we don’t see any support yet arriving from south. As a nation we can’t leave everything to government or be ignorant and think someone will do it. Some people are doing it without any coordination or networking, although its fine for some time, but not always all the time when no support is extended.

After floods, we hear same story in all place, but they have a different impact. "Water came and we ran for lives, leaving everything behind and we lost all”. They all did the same as no one can turn back the nature. "Isn't it the same thing you would do in a flood.