Soil Conservation Programme
This program can be recognized as one of the top development programs among the development initiatives of the Sri Lanka Heartland Authority. It operates in areas prioritized in the Central Highlands.
By 2026, plans have been made to conserve 1,350 hectares based on the regional secretariat divisions that have been identified. An amount of Rs. 67,500,000.00 is expected to be spent for this purpose.
Under this program, steps are taken to minimize soil erosion on the relevant lands by using biological, crop-based, and mechanical conservation methods.
Biological methods include legume planting, grass planting, Sesbania planting, cover cropping, forestry planting, or perennial crops.
Crop-based methods include using crop rotation, planting in optimal rows, using organic fertilizers, minimal tillage, and controlling weeds.
Mechanical conservation methods include stone bunds, contour trenches, net trenches, check dams, and sand bunds.
Efforts are made to provide farmers with the necessary knowledge through practical, theoretical, and leadership programs to establish soil conservation methods in a more scientific way.
The identified farmers are low-income rural communities. Since these communities do not have the required resources to carry out the work themselves, payments are made to them based on the amount of soil conservation work completed.
