Document - IUCN

Around 86 animals are on the tank reservation for grazing for 7 to 8 hours per day, from July toOctober, and they consume around 9 kg of grass per day. There is enough grass by the sides ofthe canals in the Maha and the remaining Yala season (around 120 days per year), The cattleconsume only around 2.25 kg per day in the tank reservation. Including travel time, a villagerhas to spend around one hour to collect 7 to 8 kilograms of grass.Table 13: Economic returns per hectare of water spread for providing fodder to cattle (per ha)PeriodNo ofdaysNo of kgper dayAverage Noof animalsper HaAverage weight ofgrass a person cancollect per an hour(kg)Value of alabourhour(Rs)Economicreturn (Rs)Dry period 116 4 9 7.0 31.25 18,642.8Other period 120 4 2.25 7.0 31.25 4,821.4Total 23,464.2Source: Primary survey data collected at the Kala Oya Basin 2003The value of the time saved per Hectare of water spread since the tank provides fodder to cattleand goats is, Rs 23,464.2Water use in brick makingSince the area concerned is a rural area, and many inhabitants earn their living from agriculture,there is hardly any industry except, small scale brick producing centers. This activity also takesplace only within the period of three months in the dry season from July to September. Thereare around 5 families engaged in this industry, and they use up around two barrels of water(200 liters each) per day in this three month period.If water is not available at this tank, these industrialists have to transport the water from anothertank, situated around two kilometers away. Two wheeler tractors are capable of carrying twowater barrels (400 liters) at a time and cost Rs 60 per trip.Table 14: Economic returns per hectare of water spread for use in brick making (per ha)No of liters per dayPer HaNo of days Cost of transportationper liter (Rs)Economic return(Rs)90.90 90 0.15 1227.7Source: Primary survey data collected at the Kala Oya Basin 2003Costs involved in transporting water from another tank is, Rs 1227.72 per year/ per Hectare ofwater spread.Other wetland resourcesFisheryFishing is the main income generating activity supported by the tank, and around 25 people areengaged in fishing in a tank. There are only 10 full time fishermen here, and others do part timefishing mainly for their consumption. As the tank is not so big there are no mechanized boats.Only 3 inch to 3.5 inch nylon fishing nets are used for fishing.The Value of Traditional Water Schemes:Small Tanks in the Kala Oya Basin, Sri Lanka39