The planting of Areca nut trees in the Kattakaduwa area of Anuradhapura district was successfully initiated on November 1, 2024. This initiative took place at four significant tanks: Pahalagama Wewa, Dachchidamana Wewa, Mahapuliyankulama Wewa, and Siyabalagaswewa Wewa. The event saw the active participation of several key stakeholders, including a Natural Resource Management (NRM) specialist, a social inclusion and gender specialist, a Hub 02 engineer, the Divisional Officer of Poonewa, representatives from ARPA (Agricultural Research and Production Authority), local farmer organizations, and Community Development Fund (CDF) members.

During the event, the NRM specialist highlighted the importance of rehabilitating the Kattakaduwa area, emphasizing the ecological and economic benefits of such initiatives. Meanwhile, the social inclusion and gender specialist outlined the significance of community involvement, detailing the responsibilities of local residents in supporting this endeavor. This collaborative approach aims to promote sustainability, enhance local livelihoods, and restore the environmental health of the Kattakaduwa area.