KATTAKADUWA; A POTENTIAL LAND FOR AGRO-FORESTRY SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA

Proc. 6th Regional Workshop on Multipurpose Trees. (Ed.) HPM Gunasena, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. 17th – 19th August, 1995. p 96-104.

KATTAKADUWA; A POTENTIAL LAND FOR AGRO-FORESTRY SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA P.B. Dharmasena Field Crops Research & Development Institute, Mahailluppallama, Sri Lanka ABSTRACT Kattakaduwa is the land area between tank bund and the downstream paddy field, and this has been reserved mainly to safe-guard the tank bund. As each minor tank has a kattakaduwa habitat it can be estimated that at least 9,000 Kattakaduwa sites occupying an extent of about 10,000 hectares could be developed as Kattakaduwa agro-forestry systems in Sri Lanka. Kattakaduwa eco-system consists of three land categories: downstream side of the tank bund, a marshy land and an upland. Due to this three fold nature there is a wide diversity in the plant composition in this ecosystem from aquatic plants to tree species found in the dry forest. Importance of existing a land of this nature is laudable for its ability to reduce tank seepage, prevent entering salt and ion polluted water seeping through the bund to paddy field, and to provide various needs of the community such as timber, fuel wood, medicine, fencing materials etc. A survey carried out using 31 Kattakaduwa sites in the central dry zone, indicated that 77 plant species are grown in this environment in addition to the commonly found under-growth of natural vegetation. Out of these 77 species, 27 percent is common to both homegarden and Kattakaduwa, and the rest has come from the forest. Kattakaduwa is the habitat for 13 plant species and 88 percent of the plant species found in Kattakaduwa are of natural origin. It was also found that 60 percent of tree species in Kattakaduwa serve more than one purpose to the associated community. Even though this environment is favourable for most of the plants, which can be used for cottage industries and as vegetable and fruit they are not properly introduced to the Kattakaduwa by village community. Among them Bamboo (Bambusa spp.), Rattan (Calamus spp.), Vetakeya (Pandanus kaida), Matgrass (Cyperus pangorei), Kohila (Lasia spinosa), Gotukola (Centella asiatica), Beli (Megle marmelos) etc. are the most important species. This paper discusses the present anatomy of Kattakaduwa and its possible development towards an agro-forestry system, which could be productive for providing a sustainable service to the tank-village communities in Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION Undulating nature of the dry zone topography has left ample opportunities to erect rainwater harvesting structures which are generally located in the mid portion of minor watersheds. Wisdom of our ancestors could make this environment favourable for living in harmony with nature while utilizing its resources for producing almost all needs of the community. These rainwater harvesting structures generally known as minor tanks or village tanks have been built up to store water for bathing and other domestic purposes as well as to irrigate the rice field immediately below it. In time, the homestead, the tank, the field and a wild garden round the homestead planted with a variety of fruit trees which drew moisture from a water table preserved by proximity to the tank, came to be collectively referred to as village, or gama in Sinhala (Brohier, 1975). The village tank eco-system is a composite of several main components such as forest, chena, scrub land, tank, hamlet, rice field etc., and few sub elements such as upstream reservation (Gasgommana), hamlet buffer zone (Tisbambe), downstream reservation (Kattakaduwa) etc. (Tennakoon, 1974). Each of these elements serves specific purposes to village community, and plays a distinct role in sustaining the balance of the eco-system (Fig. 1). The upstream reservation, Gas-gommana is the strip of land generally occupies the high flood region of the tank. Trees such as Kumbuk (Terminafia arjuna), Kayam (Memecylon capitellatum), Maila (Bauhinia racemosa), Damba (Syzygium gardnerl), Palu (Manikara hexandra) etc. are grown in this area. 'Gas-gommana' means 'trees-cluster'. It is formed naturally from seeds floating on water. At the end of maha season in some years due to excess rains, tanks spill, but water recedes from high flood region to full supply level within few days. The seeds are sunk in muddy lands and they sprout slowly from wet soil. This area does not inundate every year, and it provides a favourable environment for certain plant species to be survived to a stage beyond which they are tolerant to submerged conditions. The tree strip and grass undergrowth in the Gas-gommana area have some ability to protect the tank from sedimentation as the runoff waterflow slows down when it passes through Gas-gommana allowing suspended materials to deposit. The Gas-gommana also acts as a wind break by obstructing the dry wind which would otherwise accelerate the evaporation process of tank water. Nevertheless, it marks the territory of wild animals beyond which

they are protected from human targets for certain extent. It is noteworthy that the sustainability of an eco-system does exist in dynamic equilibrium where all parties should have some sort of protection from each other. 'Tisbambe' has been described by Brohier (1973) as follows. "A path breaks off from the bund of the tank leading to an open ring of highland cleared of bramble, bush and thorn which girdles the actual living-centre. This reaches from 50 to a 100 yards to the edge of the ambient jungle. You will be told this is the tisbambe or communal reserve of the settlement". Coconut, mango and other fruit-bearing trees are grown in tisbambe area, and it acts as a buffer zone to protect from wild animals and is used as a pasture area for cattle. Kattakaduwa is the land area reserved mainly to protect the tank bund. It is not clear how the terminology has been derived but some explanations have been made by considering the historical perspective of this small strip of land. One suggestion is that the term 'Kattakaduwa' has the meaning (as it reads in tamil) of place with concentrated salty water (Tennakoonpersonnel communication). However, the author has been told by some villagers that this particular land strip was divided among rice field owners according to their lot size to excavate soil and repair the tank bund. Each farmer had a Katti (block) to excavate soil. In sinhala, the 'blocked out' area can be called as 'Katti-keduwa' area and later it would have been converted to the term 'Kattakaduwa'. However, both these imaginations have not been confirmed correct, and it seems that the importance of Kattakaduwa is much more than the definitions one could add to the description of Kattakaduwa. It has been estimated that there are at least about 9,000 minor tanks in the dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka (Thilakasiri, 1986) and if so it can be postulated that there are 9,000 Kattakaduwa sites which would occupy an extent of about 10,000 hectares of land in minor watersheds of Sri Lanka. Although it is not a large extent compared to other land uses these sites as they exist must have a distinct contribution to the eco-system as well as to neighbouring community. Secondly, it was observed that the Kattakaduwa reserved land has been encroached by farmers to expand their rice field or to develop a vegetable garden on its moist soil. Both these reasons have stressed the importance of conducting a study to understand the reality of this habitat, and suggest possible development to utilize this land for betterness of the community without loosing what has been meant by reserving this sanwitched portion of land between tank and its command area. Kattakaduwa is a marshy land, but it dries up in the July - September dry period when the tank storage falls down below the sluice sill level. During wet season water is collected from rainfall in depressions and subsequently it is maintained with seepage water. When the tank storage reaches its full supply level, in most of the tank water gathered in water holes of Kattakaduwa overflows into irrigation channels. This is not desirable as this salty water polluted with Fe 31 could enter the rice field. It seems reasonable to postulate that in early days this excess water might have been drained through the common drain which

is absent at present. These common drains also have been encroached by farmers to expand their fields. Kattakaduwa water holes are full of water when the tank storage is high. Tank storage loss is observed high in this time (Dharmasena, 1985), but one can expect more losses in the absence of these water holes as the driving force of seepage then would become the head difference between tank water level and the ground water table. Water level of the Kattakaduwa acts artificially as the ground water level reducing the hydraulic gradient which consequently reduces the seepage loss of village tanks. This reason further stresses the importance of the existence of Kattakaduwa in its functioning form. The seepage water from tank is more salty than the tank water, and it contains Fe 3+ too. Nevertheless, Kattakaduwa water becomes salty due to the evaporation-salt accumulation process with time. The Kattakaduwa reserved area in its proper functioning form acts as a buffer to prevent salt and Fe 31 entering the downstream field. Kattakaduwa eco-system consists of three land categories: downstream side of the tank bund, a marshy land and an upland. Due to this three fold nature there is a wide diversity in the plant composition in this eco-system from aquatic plants to tree species found in the dry forest. A patch of land with such a diversity is not available elsewhere in the tank-village eco-system, therefore, functions, uses and the role of Kattakaduwa are unique to the system. OBJECTIVE Importance of existing a land of this nature is laudable not only for its ability to reduce tank seepage and prevent entering salt and ion polluted water seeping through the bund to rice field, but also to provide various needs of the community such as timber, fuel wood, medicine, fencing materials etc. Therefore, a survey was planned to inventorise the available plant species in Kattakaduwa and their functions and uses, and to identify possible ways of improving Kattakaduwa for its sustainability in the tank-village eco-system. METHODOLOGY The study was carried out in 31 Kattakaduwa sites in Nachchaduwa watershed. Tanks considered belong to few cascades and some of the tanks are not associated with a village and known as '01agam'. Observations were made on situation of tank and its approximate size, village population, size of the catchment, extent of rice field and other general features of the area. Extents were measured in Kattakaduwa area dividing into 3 land categories; downstream side of the tank bund,

marshy land and upland. History of each tank according to farmers' knowledge was also recorded. Total number of species and plants in each Kattakaduwa were counted. Number of plants was recorded under different age groups. Purposes served by different plant species were noted down by interviewing villagers. A parallel study was carried out to identify plant species available in adjoining forest areas. Plant species were grouped according to their abundance and availability in Kattakaduwa, homegardens and nearby forest. Views were taken from villagers to understand what improvements and expectations they have in mind for any future development of Kattakaduwa habitat. RESULTS The survey, carried out in 31 Kattakaduwa sites, has covered an extent of 36.6 ha giving an average Kattakaduwa size of 1.18 ha. The Kattakaduwa size ranged from 0.37 to 3.41 ha. About 75 % of the Kattakaduwa sites surveyed had an extent ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 ha. Relative abundance of plant species About 1500 plants were surveyed belonging to 77 species. Of the plants surveyed, 15 percent was in the range of 10 - 25 years old. About 23 percent of plants were more than 25 years old. Others are less than 10 years old. According to the survey most dominant 10 plant species in the Kattakaduwa are Margosa (Azadirachta indica), Palmaira (Borassus flabellifer), Mee (Madhuka longifolia), Maila (Bauhinia recemosa), Woodapple (Feronia limonia), Damba (Syzygium gardnerl), Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna), Ehela (Cassia fistula), Tamerind (Tamerindus indica), and Helemba (Mitragyna parvifolia). These species serve various purposes such ad timber, firewood, medicine, fruit etc. to the associated human community. Four fruit trees are found among this 'top-ten'. Associated habitats A classification was done considering the 77 plant species according to the availability of them in Kattakaduwa, homegarden and forest area. Fig. 2 shows the inclusion and exclusion of plant species in these three habitats. The Fig. 2 indicates that there are 180 species altogether found in tank village eco-system. Out of 77 species found in Kattakaduwa, 21 species are only found in both homegarden and Kattakaduwa, and 9 species have directly come from forest. It is not surprising to observe that 44 percent of Kattakaduwa plant species are common to all three habitats. It is also important to note that Kattakaduwa is the habitat for 13 plant species. The list of plant species grouped

according to their abundance in habitats is given in the Appendix. It was also found that 90 percent of plant species found in Kattakaduwa are of natural origin.

Fig. 2. Plant Species in Different Habitats. Multi-use of Kattakaduwa species Results indicated that more than 80 percent of the Kattakaduwa plant species are multipurpose. About 60 percent of species serve more than two purposes. An early survey done in homegardens showed that the availability of trees with more than two purposes is only 40 percent in the homegarden (Dharmasena, 1993). Thus, from the multipurpose tree point of view the Kattakaduwa has a greater potential than homegarden. Table 1 shows the number of species found in Kattakaduwa with respect to their importance of servicing to the community in various aspects. Table 1. No. of plant species available for different purposes. Purpose

Medicine Fuelwood Timber Fencing materials Farm and household implements

Plant species No 52 52 40 31 15

.% 68 68 52 40 19

Food Fruit Vegetable Fodder

12 11 9 5

16 14 12 6

Total No. of plant species: 77 Villagers use Kattakaduwa trees mainly for 9 purposes. The survey revealed that five purposes are of particular importance. Among them medicine, firewood and timber are the main uses of the Kattakaduwa trees. However, as the Kattakaduwa area is closer to the hamlet than the forest, they collect materials for fencing and farm and household implements from this small area. Although number of plant species for food, fruit, vegetable and fodder is less, they are found in most of the Kattakaduwa sites showing how closely the people live in harmony with their surrounding environment. Row materials for cottage industry A group of plant species could be found among the surveyed species which has a potential in using for cottage industries (Table 2). There are 21 species that can be used for cottage industries. Diversification of occupation from farming to cottage industries has several advantages. Firstly, it provides income to people who do not own lands for cultivation. Secondly, it solves the unemployment problem in the village. Thirdly, such diversity of resource use leads to bio-diversity in the eco-system which would otherwise move towards mono-crop agriculture. Nature of cottage industry one could expect from different species is given in Table 2. Table 2. Plant species suitable for cottage industries. Name of the plant Margosa Mee Damba Kumbuk Tamerind Koon Ebony Kotta Indi Palmaira Bambo Kithul

Products Oil, insecticide Honey, oil Mortar and pestle Lime Sweet and soft drinks Chutney Wood carvings Pillows, toys Hats, bags, baskets etc. Mats, bags, baskets, sweets etc. Wood carvings, flower vas, building materials etc. Building materials, household

Pata-beli Vetakeya Rattan Pothupan Thunhiriya Jute Woodapple Maila Ranawara

implements etc. Ropes Bags, baskets, mats etc. Baskets, furniture etc. Mats Mats Bags, strings Jam, soft drinks Ropes Brew

Agro-forestry system development In interviewing villagers to obtain their views on future development activities in Kattakaduwa, some of them stated about planting efforts made by villagers in past. In different instances in different sites they had experience in planting Vetakeya (Pandanus kaida) at the bottom edge of the downstream side of the bund, Matgrass (Cyperus pangore), Kohila (Lasia spinosa), Wadakaha (Acorus calmus) and Colocasia (Colacasia esculenta) in water holes and Palmaira (Borassus flebellifer) on bunds. Such traditions planting useful species in Kattakaduwa can be adopted and extended develop the Kattakaduwa habitat as an agro-forestry system. Followi species can be proposed to include in tree planting programmes f developing the Kattakaduwa agro-forestry system. Plant species 1. Bamboo (Bambusa spp.) 2. Vetakeya (Pandanus kaida),

Location Either side of the downstream area of the tank bund. Mid-portion of the downstream area of the tank bund. In the water holes.

3.

Matgrass (Cyperus pangore), Kohila (Lasia spinosa), Wadakaha (Acorus calamus), Kankun Qpomoea aquatica) etc.

4.

Ratton (Calamus spp.), In wetland adjoining Coloacasia (Coloacasia esculenta), to water holes. Gotukola (Centella asiatica), Mukunuwenna (Altemanthera sessifis) etc.

5.

Palmaira (Borassus flebelfifer), Areconut (Areca catechu), Milla (Vitex pinnata) etc. Beli (Aegle marmelos),

6.

Along the boundary between Kattakaduwa and rice field. In upland areas and

Margosa (Azadirachta indica), Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna), Woodapple (Feronia fimonia), Mee (Madhuca longifolia) etc.

on the tank bund.

CONCLUSION Kattakaduwa as a habitat for certain plant species it needs to be conserved from environmental point of view. Further, it can be improved and needs to be maintained as the associated community receives its benefits. There is a strong reason for preserving this area as it reduces tank seepage, safeguards the storage dam, prevents entering salty water and water polluted with Fe 31 into the cultivated area. Kattakaduwa is an agro-forestry system as it provides human needs while maintaining the diversity of vegetation. It supplies various types of raw materials for cottage industries. Therefore, development of Kattakaduwa area as an agro-forestry system is an essential element in rural development programmes which aim at maintaining the balance between production from and protection of natural resources in these pleasant communities. REFEREN CES Brohier, R.L., 1975. Food and the People, Lack House Investment Ltd., Colombo, Sri Lanka. P 4. Dharmasena, P.B., 1985. System loss studies of village tanks. Trop. Agric., Dept. of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Vol. 141:95-108. Dharmasena, P.B., 1993. Man-environment interaction in tank village homegardens; the trend in vegetation. Proc. 4 1h Regional workshop on MPTS, Kandy, Sri Lanka. p 90-101. Tennakoon, M.U.A., 1974. Rural settlement and land use in North Central Sri Lanka, Unpublished Thesis, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y. Thilakasiri, S.L., 1986. Village irrigation, Economic Review. People's Bank Research Department, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Vol(ii)ii:8.

Appendix: PLANT SPECIES FOUND IN KATTAKADUWA (Listed in the order of abundance) 1 . Species common to homegarden and Kattakaduwa Palmaira (Borassus flabellifer), Gan sooriya (Thespesia populnea), Gliricidia (Glificidia sepium), Mara (Albizia lebbeck), Mango (Mangifera indica), Kithul (Caryota urens), Kotta (Ciba pentandra), Halmilla (Berrya cordifolia), Aththana (Datura metel), Ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), Jam (Muntingia calabura), Thibbatu (Solanum indicum), Mukunuwenna (Alternanthera sessills), Gotukola Wentella asiafica), Heerassa (Cissus quadrangularis), Thiththaaguna (Dregea volubdis), Olinda (Abrus precatorius), Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris), Erabadu (Erythrina vadegata), Nithul (Ficus parasitica) and Kaneru (Nerium oleander). (21 species) 2. Species common to Kattakaduwa and forest Ehetu (Ficus tsiela), Rukaththana (Alstonia scholaris), Nuga (Ficus altissima), Indi (Phoenix zeylanica), Aththikka (Ficus racemosa), Kotakimbula (Ficus hispida), Imbul (Salmaliamalabarica),WaInaran (Atalandaceylanica) and Thotila (Oroxylum indicum). (9 species) 3. Species common to forest, homegarden and Kattakaduwa Margosa (Azadirachta indica), Mee (Madhuca longifoia), Maila (Bauhinia racemosa), Woodapple (Feronia limonia), Dambe (Syzygium assimfle), Ehela (Cassia fistula), Tamarind (Tamerindus indica), Helamba (Mitragyna parvifolia), Keeriya (Acacia chundra), Koon (Schleicheria), Bo (Ficus religiosa), Ketakala (Bridelia retusa), Godakirala (Holoptelea integrifolia), Thimbiri (Diospyros malabarica), Ebony Diospyros ebenumkoenig), Hik (Lanneacoromandelica), Lolu ( Cordia domestica), Huri (Albizia addratissima), Dabu (Syzygium cordifolium), Ahu (Morinda citfifolia), Geduma (Trachyspermum roxburghianum), Ranawara Wassia auriculata), Kaduru Werbera manghas), Boradamana (Flacourda

inermis), Andara (Dichrostachys cinerea), Penela (Sapindus trifoliatus), Vaa (Cassia siamea), Nika (Vitex negundo), Lunuwarana (Crateva refigiosa), Palu (Manikara hexandra), Kolon (AdIna cordifolia), Karapincha (Murraya koenigill, Rathmal Vxora coccinea) and Milla (Vitex pinnata). (34 species) 4. Species specific to Kattakaduwa Kumbuk (Terminaflaarjuna), Thunhiriya (Cyperuspangoreil, Karanda (Pongamia pinnata), Bakmee (Nauclea orientails), Patabeli (Hibiscus tfliaceus), Aththora (Atylosia trinervia), Jute (Unum usitatissimum), Kayarn (MemecVlon capitellatum), Vetakeya (Pandanus kaida), Rattan (Calamus spp.), Pothupan (Scleria poaeformis), Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta) and Midella (Barringtonia cylanica). (13 species)