Sri Lanka to empower paddy farmers through innovative learning
Daily FT: The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the European Union (EU), have launched a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing the knowledge and practices of Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM) among paddy farmers across Sri Lanka.
This initiative is marked by the commencement of a series of Farmer Field Days, starting with the inaugural Farmer Field Day in Polonnaruwa on 5 March, and the introduction of the ground-breaking digital learning platform, Nena Wagawa (නැණ වගා ව).
The inaugural Farmer Field Day, held under the theme “Fertile Soil for a Bountiful Harvest,” was inaugurated by Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Head of Cooperation Johann Hesse, Sri Lanka and the Maldives FAO Representative Vimlendra Sharan, and key representatives from the Department of Agriculture. 330 farmers and agriculture students from two schools participated, gaining hands-on experience and insights into the application of IPNM techniques for more sustainable and productive farming.
The Farmer Field Days are a key component of the RiceUP project, a collaborative effort between FAO and the Sri Lankan Government, funded with €4 million from the European Union. RiceUP aims to fortify the resilience of Sri Lanka’s food security system by advancing IPNM practices among smallholder farmers, thereby enhancing their livelihoods while boosting the production of quality paddy seeds for better productivity in paddy farming.
Central to this initiative is the launch of the Nena Wagawa digital learning platform, a pioneering step towards bringing IPNM knowledge directly to farmers. This online portal offers comprehensive e-learning courses in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, designed to educate farmers on the nuances of IPNM in paddy farming. Accessible from anywhere through internet-connected devices, nenawagawa.doa.gov.lk is set to revolutionise how farmers learn and apply sustainable agricultural practices.
The RiceUP initiative has already made significant strides, with 6,000 farmers across Ampara, Badulla, Hambantota, and Polonnaruwa Districts receiving training on IPNM from 289 agriculture extension officers. This training aims to promote the efficient use of fertilisers and other inputs, leading to reduced costs, improved productivity, and enhanced resilience against future agricultural challenges.
On the occasion, Johann Hesse expressed, “Our collaboration with FAO signifies a shared commitment to revitalising Sri Lanka’s agriculture, addressing food shortages, and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers. Together, we have supplied essential inputs like fertilisers and seedlings, meeting crucial needs within the sector. We anticipate that the ongoing EU grant, along with FAO’s technical assistance, will expedite the shift toward a more sustainable, resilient, and productive agriculture sector in Sri Lanka.”
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry has become one of the fast growing sectors owing to the increasing demand in the local and international markets. The increase in demand for consumption crops and export crops have resulted in the opening of many new business/investment opportunities in the country’s agriculture industry. Therefore, there are multiple business/investment opportunities in the agriculture industry. Apart from the direct opportunities, there are emerging business/investment opportunities in the development of infrastructure and supplementary infrastructure facilities required by the agriculture industry as well as in providing technical and technological expertise required by the industry to be on par with international standards. Some of these projects have already received funding from multilateral financial institutions and are in need of implementing partners. Therefore, foreign businesses interested in entering Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry could explore the opportunities in such projects while also looking at forming collaborations with local businesses to expand operations. With Sri Lanka on a steady growth path, the business/investment opportunities in the agriculture industry are also on a growth path. Given the growing business potential foreign businesses/investors could explore the expanding business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20240418/Z_2 |