Helping Sri Lanka's farmers get back on their feet

Sri Lanka’s economic situation has improved in many ways since the economic crisis began in 2022. Shortages of food, fuel, and medications have largely subsided, and inflation, which once peaked at about 70%, is now in the single digits. However, the cost of living remains high, and wages have not kept pace with the need. This makes life especially difficult for poor families who often work as day laborers. 

In April, Peace Winds began a new initiative to support farmers and day laborers in Mullaitivu, a small town in northeastern Sri Lanka. This area has one of the highest poverty rates in the country. Factors such as the coronavirus pandemic, the economic crisis, and the high cost of chemical fertilizers have hit Mullaitivu’s farmers hard. Over the next several months, Peace Winds will work with farmers to rehabilitate small agricultural reservoirs. This will allow them to store more rainwater and use it efficiently for rice cultivation. Daily-wage farmers who do not own rice fields will also receive support for poultry farming and home gardening, increasing their food self-sufficiency.

In addition to our work in Mullaitivu, Peace Winds is partnering with the Department of Agriculture, Trincomalee to offer circular agriculture training for farmers in Trincomalee. The goal of the courses is to help participants increase profits and production while spending less money and fewer resources on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A number of experts from the local government have already provided consultations and taught courses on subjects such as tree pruning, which ultimately helps increase production. Peace Winds also provides consultations that help farmers learn to use soil diagnostic kits to improve soil conditions and troubleshoot common problems found on farmland. 

Through May of this year, the agriculture training program also included a basic accounting course. Many Sri Lankan farmers do not keep records of their expenses and profits, and they often fail to account for their expenses when it comes to calculating their income. Peace Winds’ courses helped participants work through real-life scenarios so they can keep better ledgers for their own profits.

Some farmers can feel reluctant to learn and implement new habits before they begin the training. However, once they get the hang of the material and see its value, participants say they are grateful for what they’ve learned from their instructors.

Peace Winds’ programming in Sri Lanka is made possible by funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and by contributions from our donors. Peace Winds continues to raise funds for the agricultural training program, and we thank you for your generous support. 

Over the last several months, Peace Winds has been working with farmers in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka to provide specialized training in organic agriculture. The objective is to help trainees increase their crop production while spending less money and fewer resources on necessities like fertilizer and pesticides. Peace Winds also helps farmers earn a fair price for their products at local markets. This kind of knowledge is invaluable for individuals who have difficulty maintaining a steady income, especially amid the challenging economic landscape that persists throughout the country. 

The practice of earning a living through farming in Sri Lanka is difficult in part due to the neglect that the infrastructure has suffered in the years since the civil war ended in 2009. Since 2011, Peace Winds has been working to support the farmers who have resettled and struggle to earn a reliable income. Adding to the hardship is Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis that began two years ago. Fortunately, the situation is gradually improving, and inflation has dropped after reaching a high of 70% in 2022. However, prices are still high for many essential commodities, including fertilizers and pesticides.

Peace Winds is providing training in circular agriculture, which reuses organic materials by using livestock manure and native medicinal herbs as fertilizers for crops. Farmers use locally available materials to produce organic fertilizers and natural pesticides. Training includes the production and use of these fertilizers and pesticides as well as techniques common in other parts of the world, such as crop rotation, seedling training, and proper pruning. Increasing organic inputs and decreasing the use of chemicals helps increase profitability and decrease environmental impact.

Trainees of Peace Winds’ program are now implementing the knowledge they have gained to make their own liquid fertilizers and manure-based compost. Local farmers are excited to expand their skills in new areas, and they are happy to share their produce with Peace Winds staff who have made several visits to their farms to monitor the success of the program. 

Our staff say that their biggest role is to bridge the communication gap between experts and farmers. Many specialists have invaluable skills, but if trainees don’t find the information interesting or easy to understand, they are unlikely to incorporate the new techniques. Peace Winds is working to make difficult knowledge memorable and simple to grasp so that farmers can put it into practice and earn a greater profit.

Peace Winds’ programming in Sri Lanka is made possible by funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency as well as by contributions from our donors. Peace Winds continues to raise funds for the agricultural training program, and we thank you for your generous support.