Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday held separate discussions with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative Vimlendra Sharan and United Nations Development Program Deputy Country Representative Malin Herwig, regarding the current food situation in the country.
The Prime Minister explained that in view of the threat of a food shortage, a food security program was being compiled by the agriculture department officials. This program is due to be unveiled next month, with the UNDP expressing their support for the initiative.
He stated that the biggest issue currently facing the agriculture sector is the fertiliser and fuel shortage. The Prime Minister also elaborated on the urban agriculture initiative that he had established to try and overcome a potential food shortage.
The UNDP explained that they were compiling an innovative farming assistance program which would help the farming community overcome the fertiliser shortage.
The FAO also explained that donors had stepped forward to assist the country in the urban agriculture program, and was hopeful that a successful implementation would see more financial support provided. The FAO also stated they were drafting a food crisis response plan that can be enacted in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister explained that within 5-6 months the current agriculture shortages could be salvaged if swift action was taken to address the shortages faced by the farmers.
Meanwhile the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) together with the Government of Sri Lanka last week signed a financial agreement to launch the Smallholder Agribusiness and Resilience Project (SARP).
The project aims to address the impacts of climate change on about 40,000 smallholder families, building their resilience and promoting agriculture commercialisation.
Improving rural livelihoods, boosting food security and building climate resilience in the country’s dry zone, are key to enabling Sri Lanka to eradicate persistent pockets of poverty across the country.
The project development objectives are in line with national priorities – and key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The six-year project will mobilise climate-sensitive investments and work with smallholder producers to build and expand agricultural activities that are climate resilient and part of inclusive value chains.
The project will operate in six districts in the dry zone, namely Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Matale, Mannar, Puttalam and Kurenagala districts. Potential commodities include goats, dairy, chili, and fruits and vegetables, as well as more specialised crops like aloe vera and moringa – a wide range to mitigate the risks of climate change.
