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

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