JICA reconstructs Fisheries College and Coconut Nursery in Jaffna

The Jaffna College of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering and the Achchuveli Coconut Nursery, reconstructed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the PDP - Jaffna (Project for Development Planning for the Rapid Promotion of Reconstruction and Development in Jaffna District) Project were opened by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa recently.

The objectives of the PDP-Jaffna Project are to implement Quick Impact Pilot Projects (QIPP) for rapid restoration of livelihoods, and formulate a map for the development of the Jaffna district based on the findings of QIPPs. In addition to the Fisheries College and Coconut Nursery, QIPPs completed under the Project, include renovation of irrigation tanks and fisheries jetties which were handed over last year. The Fisheries College is near the Gurunagar Jetty in Jaffna town and is a unique fisheries college in the Northern Province.

The original Fisheries College was damaged by the conflict and educational activities were conducted in a nearby privately-owned building, facing many hardships.

The facilities are now upgraded and a two-storey building including workshop, lecture hall, food processing, multi purpose room, computer room, library, storerooms and washrooms have been built. JICA also equipped the facility with items including fishing material, tools, training equipment and navigation equipment, and educational material.

The reconstructed college will help to reactivate and improve training courses, benefiting the local population including the recent returnees, women-headed households and ease unemployment among youth who are looking for capacity development in the fishery sector. The Coconut Nursery is in the Kopay Divisional Secretariat Division and is the primary source of producing genetically superior coconut seedlings and supplying coconut growers in the Jaffna district. However, the facility had been abandoned for many years as it was in the vicinity of a High Security Zone and access to the Nursery was restricted.

The Coconut Nursery recommenced in 2010 after restrictions were removed.

The renovated facility has the capacity to utilise the nursery and make available high quality seedlings at a reasonable price to local coconut growers.

Some seedlings from the nursery will be distributed free to returnee-farmers. JICA also conducted Operation and Maintenance (O&M) trainings including Japanese quality improvement system 'Kaizen' to staff of the Fisheries College and Coconut Nursery and assisted to develop action plans specifying the type and frequency of O&M activities for each renovated facility.

The development Road Map for Jaffna has been drafted after consultation with local communities, local, regional and central government administration agencies and other line ministries and development partners.

The PDP-Jaffna team held a forum to discuss the Road Map with stakeholders and it will be finalised by the end of next month.

We hope the renovated facilities will help to enhance livelihood opportunities, and improve the quality of life especially of the resettled people", said Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office Akira Shimura.