March 12, Colombo (LNW): A major new agriculture and nutrition programme has been launched in Sri Lanka to strengthen the production of a key supplementary food relied upon by mothers and young children across the country.
The initiative, titled “Sow and Grow”, is being rolled out by the World Food Programme with financial backing from the Korea International Cooperation Agency and in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka.
Valued at around USD 10 million, the project will run over the next five years and aims to reinforce the supply chain supporting the country’s long-standing Thriposha nutrition programme.
Thriposha, a fortified food supplement distributed through the public health system, plays a vital role in supporting children under the age of five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. By expanding the cultivation of locally grown maize—one of its key ingredients—the programme seeks to ensure a more stable and sustainable supply of the product nationwide.
As part of the project, approximately 7,500 farmers from the districts of Anuradhapura District, Monaragala District and Badulla District will receive assistance aimed at improving yields and grain quality. The initiative will also encourage climate-resilient farming methods, modern storage practices and better post-harvest management to minimise crop losses.
In addition to boosting production, the programme intends to strengthen links between growers, agricultural aggregators and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited, the state enterprise responsible for producing the nutritional supplement. Officials say this approach will help secure a reliable local supply of maize while reducing reliance on imported grain and cushioning the sector against climate-related disruptions.
If successful, the effort is expected to benefit more than 650,000 young children and over 330,000 expectant and nursing mothers throughout the country by ensuring consistent access to Thriposha.
The project will be carried out with the involvement of several government bodies, including the Ministry of Agriculture Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka and other agencies responsible for rural development, food security and economic planning.
Representatives from both KOICA and the WFP noted that Sri Lanka’s maize farmers face growing pressures from erratic weather patterns and fluctuating markets. They said the new programme is designed not only to protect vulnerable groups who rely on nutritional assistance, but also to strengthen rural livelihoods and build a more resilient national food system.
The project was formally inaugurated at a ceremony attended by senior government officials, development partners and representatives of the farming community, signalling a renewed commitment to improving nutrition while supporting the country’s agricultural sector.