In the Chavakachcheri and Nallur DS divisions of Jaffna district, the rice fields located in Maravanpullavu, Thanankillapu, Eluthumadduval North and Ariyalai East, the conflict forced the farmers to abandon their lands. Paddy was their main source of income and supported their livelihood. With life returning to it’s normal pace gradually, after the end of the conflict, the Government of Sri Lanka has launched a development programme in the North, under a promising slogan named “Vadakkin Vasantham” (literally spring in the North). The once abandoned lands have now been handed over to the owners through the respective Divisional Secretariats, to its owners so that they could recommence cultivating paddy. Under this same “Vadakkin Vasantham” programme, the owners were supported financially to prepare the lands for cultivation and given seed paddy and fertilizer. Depsite the resumption of cultivation, the farmers are challenged is saving their precious paddy with stray cattle gazing around uncleared areas, that lie close to their fields.

FORUT collaborated with the Jaffna Department of Agrarian Development and selected the locations to provide fencing support back in November last year. This was carried under the Flood Relief programme and a formal agreement was entered between the Deparment, Respective District Secretariats and local farmer organisations. Input for the fencing such as barbed wire, concrete columns and nails were provided by FORUT to fence approximately a total paddy land area of 1800 acres. Farmers of the local farming organisation teamed up to set up the fencing that spanned the length of around 10km, thus contributing through with their labour.  The fencing has paved the way for an increased income of around 1,183 farming families as the crop could be safeguarded from herds of stray cattle.