Importance of food security in poverty stricken areas

Saturday, 20 October 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Muslim Aid, in keeping with its mission of serving humanity has been engaged in several projects to ensure food security for the under privileged. In Batticaloa district, Muslim Aid Sri Lanka (MASL) has an ongoing home gardening project aimed at uplifting the poverty stricken residents of the district.

MASL provides assistance towards home gardening to beneficiaries chosen from amongst the most deserving and needy.

The World Food Programme/Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates nearly 13% of the district’s population faces severe to moderate food insecurity, with daily-paid laborers being most vulnerable.

Most of the poverty is concentrated inland: Koralaipattu north and south, Eravurpattu, Man-munai and Porativupattu. These poverty stricken areas also have high number of IDPs, mostly due to the conflict and the 2009 flood.

According to a post-tsunami survey by the International Labour Organisation/World Food Programme, Batticaloa was one of the two districts with the highest number of tsunami-affected households living below the poverty line.

A spokesperson for Muslim Aid Sri Lanka said, “By providing assistance to the people of this community, MASL hopes to strengthen the food security status of vulnerable households using sustainable organic home gardening.”

“I had no one to help me, only a small plot of land where I did some vegetable gardening. Now, I have larger area to grow vegetables in and am able to feed not only my children but my grandchildren as well,” says Aasiya Ummah of Mancholai, a widow with five children, some of whom are married.

Meanwhile, in the Kahat-agasdigiliya, Horowpathana and Kebithigollawa divisions of the Anuradhapura district, Muslim Aid is supporting the livelihood of 158 beneficiaries by providing them a calf and a pregnant cow, as well as agricultural support.

The aim of this project is to enhance the income earning capacity of the low income families within these areas. This project has shown great promise and is ongoing.