FAO and USAID to help agriculture sector revitalisation

From left: Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry Secretary Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, USAID Mission Director Gabriel Grau and FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Vimlendra Sharan 

•  $ 9.2 m four-year project to support 10,000 paddy farmers across four districts
• Help diversify use of 1,250 hectares of paddy lands during Yala cultivation season to grow suitable cash crops

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have partnered with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Agriculture in a $ 9.2 million activity to continue revitalising agriculture by enhancing paddy productivity, diversifying crops on marginal land and promoting sustainable farming practices.

USAID is funding the four-year extension of support to Sri Lankan paddy farmers, which will benefit 10,000 farmers across four districts; Hambanthota, Vauniya, Anuradhapura and Kurunegala. FAO and the Ministry will help farmers diversify use of 1,250 hectares of paddy lands during the Yala cultivation season to grow suitable cash crops. In addition, the activity will help farmers use resources such as water and fertiliser more efficiently across 5,000 acres of paddy. The funds also will help establish streamlined supply chains to ensure the timely availability of supplies and machinery to farmers at affordable prices.

The project builds on the US’ 2022 donation of 36,000 metric tons of triple super phosphate and 9,800 metric tons of urea in the midst of the country’s economic and food security crisis, which FAO and the Ministry distributed to more than 1 million farmers.

“Our paddy farmers underwent significant challenges over the past few years,” said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera in expressing his appreciation for the commitment to revitalise the sector. “USAID and FAO provided essential fertiliser free of charge for more than 1 million paddy farmers in the country at a crucial time. This initiative builds on that support to continue ensuring increased incomes for the most vulnerable paddy farmers in Sri Lanka.”

“USAID is proud to continue our partnership with FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture,” said USAID Mission Director Gabriel Grau. “Our mutual goals for crop diversification and agricultural efficiency is a natural extension of our work to increase productivity of Sri Lankan agriculture and improve the livelihoods of smallholder paddy farmers.”

In remarks at the launch of the initiative, FAO Representative Vimlendra Sharan called the partnership with USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture, “A significant milestone in our commitment to continue to support Sri Lankan agriculture. By combining resources and expertise, we aim to bring about positive and sustainable changes for the farming community.” 

FAO and USAID emphasised their commitment to closely collaborating with the Government of Sri Lanka and other key stakeholders to ensure the success of this initiative. By fostering resilience and sustainability, the program seeks to contribute to the overall recovery of the agriculture sector, promoting increased yield and profitability for smallholder farmers.