North-East coastal region's potential not fully utilised

BY T. M. J. BANDARA
Natural Resource Planner North-East Coastal Community Development Project, Ampara District

THE North-East Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP) is mandated to carry out wide range of community development activities within and outside the tsunami-affected areas in the North-East coastal region of Sri Lanka among which the livelihood improvement, natural resource mapping, coastal resource planning and fisheries development receive high priority.

However, in this article, the main attention is focused on the first two components, livelihood development and natural resource mapping in the coastal region of the Ampara district.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of majority of people living in this area and the cattle farming, in spite of the fact that very low income derived from it could be considered as the second most important income generating activity.

The economic viability and sustainability of both these activities depend on correct understanding and management of three major components of the natural resources, land, water and vegetation (land use).

In spite of the fact that the country is not blessed with unlimited land resources, it is very disturbing to note that large extent of high land with good agricultural potential in this region remains unutilised.

Unfortunately many government and non-governmental organisations involved in various development programmes, projects are quite ignorant of this situation and tend to operate with the misconception that infrastructure development is the panacea for all the problems associated with livelihood development.

Their emphasis is mainly focused on construction of roads and wells and very strangely in areas where there is already good road network and large number of wells already remains abandoned due to high saline conditions.

Up to now very little or no effort has been made to improve the livelihood of people by adoption of innovative agricultural practices and agro based industries which is quite possible through proper management and conservation of natural resources, (especially land and water) available in the area.

To a general observer, subdued topography in the North Eastern coastal region gives the impression that these lands represent somewhat homogenous physical environmental conditions.

However, careful examination of these areas indicates that there is wide range of climatic, hydrological and soil conditions within the region.

According to the Agro-Ecological Map compiled and subsequently revised by the Natural Resource Management Centre of the Department of Agriculture, the North Eastern coastal region represents at least 5 agro ecological environments.

There are about 7 major soil types of different physical and chemical characteristics and within each of these soil types, further variation can be observed in the Topo-drainage catena, depending on the water table behaviour of different geographical positions on which they occur.

Therefore, in order to tap full potential level of unutilised high lands, the crops most suited for these different conditions should be selected and planted.

With the recent experiences of tsunami, many tend to believe that the coconut is the most suitable agricultural crop to be planted along the coastal belt of these areas.

However, one should not forget the fact that the coconut is a moisture -loving plant and in sandy regosol which is the most predominant soil type in the coastal belt, regular moisture stress conditions can occur during prolonged dry spells, which is very common to this particular region of the country.

Therefore, the coconut is suitable only for the geographical occasions where there is adequate soil moisture available throughout the year.

On the other hand, cashew and murunga would be highly suitable for sandy highlands where the water table is found at deeper layers, since both these crops can tolerate moisture stress conditions for longer periods. Of course it is up to the Government to arrange suitable market for these crops.

Also we should not forget that in certain locations, there is fresh water which with careful management could be used for intensive vegetable and other field crop cultivation. Another important feature unique to this particular area is the presence of large pockets of salient soils, especially along the coastal belt.

Most agricultural crops do not perform well under these conditions. Wood apple is found to be one of the best suited land uses for the salinity affected soils. Also these lands could be used as grazing lands.

However, for areas where water table remains at or near the surface throughout the year, cultivation of sedges like Pan should be encouraged and cottage industries be promoted. Again, it is very important to stress that adequate market should be arranged for these products.

In addition to number of lagoons and inland water bodies, at least 30% of the total land area towards the inland consists of shallow soils which are quite unproductive in terms of agriculture. These areas, with proper management could profitably be used for promoting Eco tourism.

The above observations clearly provides very important message to planners and decision makers that there are adequate opportunities and avenues for the livelihood improvement of the people in the area.

However, the selection of suitable crops/land uses to suite wide range of physical environmental conditions of the area should be carried out in a careful manner for which detailed level resource mapping is a prerequisite.

The North-East Coastal Community Development Project has undertaken livelihood development programme in some selected Grama Niladhari Divisions in Potuvil and Lahugala Divisional Secretary Divisions in Ampara District. The preparation of village development plans are now in progress according to the above guidelines.

Once, the village development plans are ready , they would be implemented through implementing partner NGOs with the support of the local communities of respective villages.

Depending on its success, such programmes could be replicated in other coastal regions of the country where similar physical and socio-economic environments exist.

Another important activity that would be implemented under the sponsorship of the NECCDEP project is the environmental conservation which is closely linked with the livelihood development and natural resource management in the coastal region of Ampara district.

The major environmental problems of the area have already been identified through detailed field surveys.

Some of the major environmental problems identified include; haphazard waste disposal, mangrove destruction, damages to sand dunes, clearing of forest, excessive application of agro chemicals, uncontrolled grazing and salinity build up due to poor water management.

In order to control the negative impacts of the above environmental hazards, the interventions are now being proposed through a consultative process with all the stakeholders involved.

The proposed interventions will be further re-scrutinised after careful analysis of already available information on previous studies. The interventions will include formulation of policies/regulations and other technical strategies that would be implemented through implementing partner NGOs.

During resource mapping, an attention would be focused to identify and map out most potential lands for some of the important land uses in the area, based on land suitability.

The major land uses that would be tested for suitability are agriculture, wildlife, forestry, grazing, urban and homestead development so that further expansion of any of the above land uses could be based on guidelines and recommendations provided in the Resource Maps.