Transcript
Sri Lankan Traditional Knowledge in adaptation to climate change
Systems of knowledge are many.Among these, modern science is only one, though the most powerful and universal. Rural people’s knowledge is in contrast ‘situated’, differing both by locality and by group and individual, and differing in its modes of experimenting and learning: different people know different things in different places, and learn new things in different ways.
– Robert Chambers, 1994
Dharmasena, P.B., Presentation made at the Workshop on ‘Conservation and utilization of local varieties, traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources and agriculture’ held on 9-10 January 2017 at Oak Ray Regency Hotel, Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha, Gatambe, Kandy.
Pre-Vijaya History (3000 BC – 600 BC)
Queen Devayani Sister Mandratha
Prince Tharaka(Kelaniya)
Prince Soorapadma(Thissamaharama)
Prince Singhemukha(Lankapura)
Prince Kuwera(Alakamanda)
King Ravana(2554 – 2517 BC
Chithrakuta)
King Vibhishana(Kelaniya)
Kevesastha
Upulwangiri
Rakungiri
Mahagiri
Chalaka
Neelagiri Kawasthalabha
Dhumaka Kaddeera Indra
Agni
Ancient Ten Divisions
Kevesastha (Northern)
Upulwangiri (Kala Oya)
Rakungiri (Malwathu Oya)
Mahagiri (Samanala mountain area) – Kelani, Kalu, Walawe,
Mahaweli
Chalaka (Mi Oya)
Neelagiri (Modaragam Aru) Kawasthalabha (Yan oya)
Dhumaka Kaddeera (Deduru Oya) Indra (Maduru Oya, Mundeni Aru, Gal oya)
Agni (Kumbukkan Oya, Menik Ganga,
Kirindi Oya
Ancient Ten Divisions based on water (3000 BC – 600 BC)
Ancient Regional Divisions of Sri Lanka Based on Major River Systems - C.M. Madduma Bandara (2009)
Proposed New Regions/Provinces of Sri Lanka based on River Basins(Madduma Bandara, 1992)
After Madduma Bandara 1992
Anuradhapura
Advantages of New Provinces• Neutral basis for boundary demarcation of
provinces – no ethnic, religious, linguistic or any other extreme criteria
• Every Province has a sea-frontage with the coast and oceanic resources.
• Development of water resources – no “inter-provincial rivers”.
• Under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution - Provincial Rivers will be developed and managed by the Provincial Councils
• Natural disaster such as floods and droughts could be managed from a long-term perspective.
• No unwelcome social barriers such as Up-country - Low Country Divisions
• The sharing of power with regard to development would be more tangible and reasonable between the centre and the periphery.
River basins – Deduru Oya, Kala Oya, Malwathu Oya and Yan Oya
River Basin Total Basin Area (Km2)
Total Rainfall (million M3)
Drainage to Sea (million M3)
% drainage to Sea
Deduru Oya 2,616 4,794 1,608 34.0
Kala Oya 2,772 4,424 587 13.0
Malwathu Oya 3,246 4,592 568 12.0
Yan Oya 1,520 2,269 300 19.0
Post - Vijaya History: Hydraulic Civilization (600 BC – 1200 AD)
• Inter-river basin water resources management– Dambulu Oya -
Malwathu Oya diversion canal (860 AD)
– Malwathu Oya - Kanadara Oya diversion canal (860 AD)
– Yoda Ela - Nachchduwa feeder canal (540 AD)
Mahakanadarawa
Nachchaduwa
Kalawewa-Balaluwewa
Dambulu oya
Malwathu oya
Kanadara oya
Kala Oya
Post - Vijaya History: Hydraulic Civilization (600 BC – 1200 AD)
• Intra-river basin water resources management– Kalawewa -
Thisawewa Yodha Ela (470 AD)
– Nachchaduwa - Nuwarawewa feeder canal (290 AD)
– Balaluwewa - Siyambalangamuwa feeder canal (290 AD)
– Basawakkulama - Maha Vilachchiya feeder canal (470 AD)
Kalawewa-Balaluwewa
Thisawewa
Siyambalangamuwa
Nachchaduwa
Nuwarawewa
Mahavilachchiya
Basawakkulama
Malwathu oya
Thalawa oya
Kala oya
Network of tanks and streams
No flood and no drought
Nachchaduwa
Kanadarawewa
Vilachchiya
Kalawewa and Balaluwewa
Huruluwewa
Main factors:1. Morphology (landscape)
• Lower elevation,• Moderate undulation
2. Rainfall• Bimodality• ~1500 mm/ year
3. Soil and geology• Regolith aquifers• Low infiltration• RBE – LHG
Network of tanks and streams in the form of cascades
Flood situation avoided Drought effect minimized
Opportunities for rich bio-diversityFood security through
diverse farming
Cyclone forcesdiluted
Total No. of tanks: 11Tanks with settlements (Wew gammana): 02Tanks without settlements (Olagam wew): 02Tanks to trap sediments (Kayan wew): 03Forest tanks (Kuluwew): 04
Sanitary places of women and kids
Sanitary places of men
Faeces as a nutrient source to paddy fieldsTank-village system will be declared soon as a
Globally Important Agriculture Heritage System (GIAHS) by UN
A Sustainable System to adapt Climate Change scenarios
Chena
Landa
Thisbambe
Gangoda
Godawala
Kattakaduwa
Kiul-ela
Streams
PerahanaGasgommana
Iswetiya
Chena
GodawalaPerahana
Gasgommana
Iswetiya
Tank water – no pollution, no sedimentation: safe drinking water, good storage
Landa
Thisbambe
Gangoda
Kattakaduwa
Kiul-ela
Paddy field - no salinity, good fertility: High productivity
What does climate change meanin Sri Lanka?
• The number of rainy days has decreased (except Nuwara Eliya)*.
• The total annual rainfall has not decreased in many areas*.• Annual rainfall variability has increased*.• Annual mean air temperature is increasing**.• Extreme events (drought and flood) are possible.
* - Manawadu and Fernando, 2008. ** - Premalal, 2009, Chandrapala , 2009.
Traditional Agricultural Practices in adaptation to climate change
• ‘Bethma’ practice during drought periods– It is a practice that temporarily redistributes plots of land among
shareholders (paddy landowners) in part of the command area (territory) of a tank (reservoir) during drought periods
• ‘Pangu’ method – Regular maintenance to avoid disasters– The tank had to be maintained properly to avoid breach, leak, and
excess seepage. Repair and desiltation of tanks and cleaning of canals during dry periods are shared tasks assigned to each farmer proportionately to land ownership.
• ‘Kekulama’ if the low rainfall maha is expected – Farmers advance the cultivation time using early seasonal rains
whenever they feel that tanks would not get enough water to cultivate the command area. They have the experience that if September (2nd inter-monsoonal) rains are high, the total seasonal rainfall is not adequate to fill the tank.
600
650
700
750
800
850
900
950
1000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
September rainfall (mm)
September Vs. October-February rainfalls (Mahailluppallama 1905 – 2003)
Oct
ober
-Feb
ruar
y ra
infa
lls (m
m)
Traditional Agricultural Practices in adaptation to climate change
• ‘Bethma’ practice during drought periods– It is a practice that temporarily redistributes plots of land among shareholders
(paddy landowners) in part of the command area (territory) of a tank (reservoir) during drought periods
• ‘Pangu’ method – Regular maintenance to avoid disasters– The tank had to be maintained properly to avoid breach, leak, and excess
seepage. Repair and desiltation of tanks and cleaning of canals during dry periods are shared tasks assigned to each farmer proportionately to land ownership.
• ‘Kekulama’ if a low rainfall maha is expected – Farmers advance the cultivation time using early seasonal rains whenever they
feel that tanks would not get enough water to cultivate the command area. They have the experience that if September (2nd inter-monsoonal) rains are high, the total seasonal rainfall is not adequate to fill the tank.
• ‘Thawalu Govithena’ during extremely dry situation– Tank bed cultivation using little rains constructing a main soil bund between
deep phase and shallow phase of the tank bed
Four strata of tank water body
Madakaluwa – dead storage area
Wewpitiya – deep water area
Waangilma – area between FSL and HFLWewthaula – shallow water area
Master bund in Thawulu Govithena to prevent tank sedimentation
SummaryRiver basin level
Inter-River basin level
Intra-River basin level
Cascade level
Village level
Field level
25
Systems of knowledge are many.
Among these, modern science is only
one, though the most powerful and
universal.
Rural people’s knowledge is in
contrast ‘situated’, differing both by
locality and by group and individual,
and differing in its modes of
experimenting and learning: different
people know different things in
different places, and learn new things
in different ways.
– Robert Chambers, 1994
THANK YOU
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