How I reduced paddy water usage by 40% using alternate wetting and drying
After joining the ASTEC water management program last year, I tried alternate wetting and drying (AWD) on my 3-acre paddy field. The results were incredible — I saved 40% water without any yield loss. The technique involves letting the field dry until the water level drops 15cm below soil surface before re-flooding. I use a simple perforated pipe to monitor water levels. Happy to share detailed steps!
#paddy #water-saving #AWD #irrigation
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ASTEC Team📍 All Districts, National
📢 Announcement 2 days ago
👁 1240💬 0
📢 Free Soil Health Testing Camp — Register by March 15th
ASTEC in partnership with the Department of Agriculture is conducting FREE soil health testing camps across 6 districts this March. We will test for: pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Organic Carbon, and micronutrients. Results with personalized fertilizer recommendations provided within 7 days. Camps in: Anuradhapura (Mar 18), Kurunegala (Mar 20), Kandy (Mar 22), Ratnapura (Mar 25), Hambantota (Mar 27), Jaffna (Mar 29). Register at astec.vercel.app/register
#soil-testing #free #registration #march-2026
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Priya Navaratnam📍 Jaffna, Northern
❓ Question 5 hours ago
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Best organic pest control for palmyra weevil? Lost 20% of my crop last season
The palmyra weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) has been devastating my crop for 2 seasons now. I don't want to use chemical pesticides as I'm going for organic certification. Has anyone tried neem oil treatments or pheromone traps? What concentrations work best in our northern climate?
#pest-control #organic #palmyra #jaffna
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Chamari Wickramasinghe📍 Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa
🏆 Success 1 day ago
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🎉 From debt to profit: How the ASTEC cooperative changed my family's life
Three years ago, I was struggling to repay loans after two bad harvests. Then I joined the ASTEC Sabaragamuwa cooperative. Today, we have 12 women farmers growing certified organic spices together. Our collective income increased by 180%. We supply to two export buyers and recently got EU organic certification. If you're in the Southern or Sabaragamuwa province, come join us — we meet every first Sunday!
Fresh harvest of organic turmeric (Curcuma longa) from my ASTEC-certified farm. Curcumin content tested at 4.2% — above export standard. Available for immediate pickup from Ampara or delivery to Colombo warehouses with minimum 200kg order. Certificate of organic farming analysis available. Contact: 071-XXXXXXX
Northeast monsoon ending early this year — tips for replanning Yala season
According to Met Department reports and what I'm seeing on the ground in Kurunegala, the northeast monsoon is expected to wrap up 3 weeks early. For Yala 2026, this means we may face a longer dry spell in April-May. I recommend: (1) Prepare tanks now, (2) Choose short-duration varieties, (3) Pre-order drip irrigation if budget allows. Who else is adjusting their planting calendar?