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FAO Sri Lanka News Update - Issue 19
June - Sep 2014 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Sri Lanka l ISSN No:1800-4601
Inside this issue Over 150 000 people to benefit from FAO/ EU support Integrated Irrigation and Agricultural Livelihood Development in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts Dairy farming gets a boost in Sri Lanka Handing over renovated Agricultural wells in the Mullaitivu district Field day on commercial Groundnut cultivation ‘FAO NOW’ FAO Assistant Director General visits Sri Lanka FAO representative as guest of honour UNYAP field visit to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Staff Professional development and knowledge sharing workshop
Over 150 000 people to benefit from FAO/EU support
The Government’s development prog-
rammes for the Northern and Eastern
Provinces commenced with the resettle-
ment of internally displaced people in
December 2009. These initiatives
included the renovation of tanks,
distribution of agricultural tools to the
farmers and infrastructure and capacity
building to the agricultural areas.
In the past five years, FAO has provided
technical expertise in the agriculture,
fisheries and livestock sectors and
matched its know-how with resources to
revive livelihoods and build community
and government capacities.
The project will bridge inter-district
disparities helping achieve develop-
mental objectives and targets
articulated at the national level.
FAO’s part in this project will be
‘Poverty Reduction through Agricul-
tural Development’.” said Ms
Singarayer.
The aim is to increase income gener-
ation opportunities and access to
infrastructure and services for the
most exposed groups in the agricul-
tural sector in the target locations.
Enhanced income generation reach-
ing at least 50 000 people will
improve and sustain livelihoods. This
will be achieved through production
increases, post-harvest technology
and diversification for small scale
primary producers. Infrastructure will
also be improved by offering
services for local productive activities
to be used by at least 150 000
beneficiaries.
FAO will support the introduction of
value-addition and product diversifica-
tion through technology and skills
transfers. The project will continue
until April 2017.
“Identifying the appropriate require-
ment at the right time is essential in all
sectors of development” said Rohini
Singarayer, Project Manager of the
European Union funded District
Development Programme (EU-SDDP)
‘Poverty Reduction Through Agricul-
ture Development’.
This project, is a collaborative initiative
with the International Labour Organiza-
tion (ILO), United Nations Develop-
ment Programme (UNDP), United
Nations Office for Project Services
(UNOPS), International Finance
Corporation (IFC) and United
Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) and it is implemented
through the Ministry of Economic
Development.
“The project will support the
transition from recovery to
sustainable development in the
districts of Ampara, Batticaloa,
Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapu-
ra, Monaragala and Puttalam by
addressing the needs of the most
vulnerable groups and creating
the right conditions for market and
business expansion.
Study of the feasibility of big onion true
seeds production in the project area
01 02 03 04 04 04 05 05 06 06
2
Intergrated Irrigation and Agricultural Livelihood Development in
Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts (GCP/SRL/061/EC)
Location map of Rehabilitated irrigation tanks
FAO with the funding from EU, rehabilitated tanks in Mullativu and kilinochchi districts under its project ‘ Integrated Irrigation and Agricultureal Livelihood Development in Kilinochchi and Mullativu Districts’.
Kilinochchi
district
Mullativu
district
Main activities carried out by the project :
Rehabilitation of minor tanks covering up to 4 165 ha area
Rehabilitation of abandoned land up to 1 200 ha
Revitalized community-based Farmer Organizations
Increased agricultural production for 17 200 vulnerable farming families through improved variety of seeds and technical training;
Training of agricultural extension staff in agriculture and water management.
3
Dairy farming gets a boost in Sri Lanka
Farmers who are struggling with lack of knowledge in cattle production and
feeding techniques are to receive a helping hand from the Food and
Agriculture Organization. The Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community
Development (MLRCD) identified a critical need and approached FAO for
support.
"By raising awareness and improving technical knowledge, we hope to
strengthen the capacity of dairy farmers within Sri Lanka." said Dr Premalal
Kuruppuarachchi, Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes).
FAO aims to realize the objectives by implementing several
strategies. These include the importation of high yielding
breeds and the use of imported semen on high yielding
local animals. Project success and sustainability will rely
heavily on the participation of and partnership with the
Provincial Administration and beneficiary farmers. Project
activities commenced on 1 July 2014 and will continue for a
period of 24 months with a total budget of USD 274 000.
Project Inauguration at Peradeniya
The project addresses the following problems encountered by pro-
gressive dairy farmers with cross-bred
cattle;
•appropriate alternatives to feed their
cattle where free-range grazing is not
possible due to land constraints;
• lack of knowledge in high nutritional demand in critical stages of growth and
production in crossbred cattle;
• lack of knowledge or adequate aware-ness in appropriate feeding techniques to optimize the utilization of limited feed
resources base.
The tank was rehabilitated under the recently completed FAO
project funded by the European Union “Integrated
Irrigation & Agricultural Livelihood Development in Killinochchi
and Mullaitivu Districts” was focused on rehabilitating community irrigation infrastructure, improving water resource utili-
zation, promoting crop diversification and developing agricultural-based livelihoods for vulnerable farming households in
former conflict and flood- affected districts of Northern Sri Lanka.
Handing over Rehabilitated ‘Thanduwankulam’ tank to the Farmers
Mr Vethanayagan, Government Agent of Mullaitivu ,
Mr Vanderberghe, Head of Operations, EU/Sri Lanka and
Mr Wijekumar, Asstistant Commissioner of Agrarian
Development, inaugurates the rehabilitation tank.
Thanduwankulam tank in Oddusuddan DS division of
Mullaitivu district was rehabilitated by FAO in collaboration
with its implementing partner, Department of Agrarian
Development, at a cost of LKR 5.334 million. The handing
over ceremony was held under the patronage of Mr N Vetha-
nayagan, District Secretary and Government Agent
of Mullaitivu, Mr Willy Vanderberghe, Head of Operations,
EU/Sri Lanka, Mr Simone Brotini and Mr Lesly Jesurajan,
both programme Managers at EU/Sri Lanka.
Mr S Wijekumar, Asstistant Commissioner of Agrarian
Development, Mullaitivu and officers of EU Sri Lanka as well
as over 55 farmers, some officials from the government de-
partments and GramaNiladharis participated in the event.
4
In January 2014 FAO in partnership with the Department
of Agriculture, embarked on an initiative to improve
‘Groundnut Production in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi
Districts’ under the ‘Food Security in the Northern Prov-
ince’ programme with US$ 0.7 million funding from the
Royal Norwegian Government. On Tuesday, 8 July 2014,
a Field Day was organized by the Department of Agricul-
ture in cooperation with FAO to demonstrate the success
of farmers who were engaged in commercial groundnut
cultivation, from Olumadu, Periyapuliyankulam, and
Thatchadampan in the Oddusuddan DS Division in the
Mullaitivu District. Mrs J Jeganathan Deputy Director,
Head quarters, Provincial Department of Agriculture-
Northern Province participated as the chief guest and Mr E
Vijayakumar, Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Service
Department, Mullaitivu participated as the special guest at
this event.
Field day on commercial groundnut
cultivation
Field day on groundnut cultivation under the crop diversification programme in paddy lands, Olumadu
FAO along with its implementing partner ZOA renovated
35 damaged food production wells in the Mullaitivu
district at a cost of LKR 6.84million with the financial
assistance of the Australian Government / AusAid. These
wells were formally handed over to the resettled farming
families of the Puthukkudiyerippu Division on 30 June
2014 at the Divisional Secretariat. The Government
Agent in Mullaitivu, the Divisional Secretary of the
Puthukkudiyeruppu as well as Officials from FAO and
ZOA participated in this event. The objective of the well
renovation is to increase cultivation of Other Field Crops
(OFCs), fruit and vegetables through the use of lift
irrigation. Developing the capacity of the smallholder
farmers to carry out productive farming activities will
enable a sustainable source of income and ensure food
security for farming families.
Children of
the village
by a
renovated
well
Handing over renovated Agricultural
wells in the Mullaitivu District
The FAOnow is a free mobile application for quick and easy access to latest
news, events and success stories from the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations. Through this application you can download the latest
information on FAO, read these updates offline, save them as favourites for
quick reference, and share them through Email and other social media.
Accessing information on FAO just got easier.
Languages: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Italian,
Portuguese
For more information: [email protected]
http://www.slideshare.net/FAOoftheUN/faonow-new-mobile-application-from-the-
food-and-agriculture-organization-of-the-united-nations
5
FAO Assistant Director-General visits Sri Lanka
our efforts need to be focused. “In short, we need to reposition
family farming at the center of agricultural, environmental and social policies in the national agendas to pro-
mote a shift towards a more equal and a balanced development” said Ms Crawford concluding her address.
Mr Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director-General (ADG)/ Regional Repre-
sentative for Asia and the Pacific visited Sri Lanka from 8 to 10 July 2014.
Mr Konuma shared his views and ideas for the future of FAO and provided solu-
tions to the many questions put forward by the staff.
The staff meeting was followed by a tree planting ceremony where the ADG
planted an Asoka sapling in the UN compound. He then proceeded to share his
ideas on the importance of not wasting food by writing on a leaf which he hung
on the FAO idea tree titled ‘Imagine No Hunger’. Mr Konuma, accompanied by
Ms Beth Crawford, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, visited
FAO programmes both in Colombo and in Kilinochchi. He also met with the
donors, the UN Country Team, Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development; Hon. Rajitha Senaratne,
Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development and Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture.
FAO ADG on a field visit to KIlinochchi
ADG with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa,
Minister of Economic Development
ADG with Hon. Rajitha Senaratne,
Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Re-
source Development
ADG with Hon. Mahinda Yapa
Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture
FAO Representative as guest of honour at the OPA conference
Ms Crawford with the other speakers
The annual conference of the Organization of Professional
Associations of Sri Lanka was held on 23 and 24 September
2014 at the Grand Ballroom, Galadari. The event focused on the
theme ‘Role of Agriculture in Food sovereignty and poverty
eradication’, a very relevant topic in FAOs context of working
towards zero hungry people, healthy food production systems
and environmental sustainability. FAO Representative Ms Beth
Crawford addressing the gathering, said that the latest
FAO estimates indicate that 805 million people were chronically
undernourished in 2012-2014, with insufficient food for an active
and healthy life.
Ms Crawford further stated that if we look at an economy like
Sri Lanka with more than 70% of the population living in rural
areas depending on agriculture for their livelihoods and consid-
ering that poverty runs deepest in rural areas, it is clear where
6
UNYAP field visit to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi
The members of the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel (UNYAP) visited Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu to observe rural
farming in agriculture, aquaculture and livestock. The YAPsters were able to gain firsthand experience on the living
conditions of the people of the said districts.
“Personally, I would not be able to visit the North and meet people like we did, if this field trip was not organized. The
importance of this trip is vast. I am sure it will help YAPsters in different ways in our future work” said a YAPster, Umesh
Moramudali.
The YAPsters observed dairy farming supported by FAO. They along with the farmers sat on a tarpaulin under a tree and
discussed the importance of well renovation for home-gardening as well as ways of commencing value addition
activities. Later the YAPsters met two youth groups at the District Agricultural Training Centre in Oddusuddan and had
discussions with them. The Young Farmers Club (YFC)
members (five males and two females) who were present
were interviewed separately.
The YAPsters were also given the opportunity to observe
seaweed culture promoted by a private company. The
team met three youth members (one male and two
females) successfully involved in seaweed cultivation, of
whom one was a university graduate. They also met the
women, who dry harvested seaweed under the sun at
their homesteads. The YAPsters were able to get an
insight into the real situation in remote areas and in
recently re-settled areas, with regard to youth facing
difficulties in continuing their livelihoods or finding
employment opportunities. The YAPsters in discussion with the villagers
Staff Professional development and knowledge
sharing workshop
The working Retreat of FAO Sri Lanka was held from
18 to 20 June 2014 at Amaya Lake, Dambulla. The
retreat brought together staff from all FAO's field offices
and project offices, with the participation of 91 local staff
members and a regional representative from Bangkok.
The main focus of the retreat was to discuss the
implementation of the Country Programme Framework
(CPF), which is FAO’s agreed plan with the government,
reflecting priority actions in the areas of crops, livestock,
fisheries and forestry. The spotlight was also on FAO’s
strategic objectives, which were given a national and
regional perspective.
Staff had the opportunity to discuss and share their
experiences, lessons learned and challenges, and
collectively decide on how to improve FAO's
future delivery of services. Staff also participated in
indoor and outdoor team building activities, and a
fun-filled evening with singing, dancing and a
mime organized to parade the talents of staff.
FAO Representation : Tel: + 94 11 2588537/2580598 / Fax: + 94 11 2587990 / Email: [email protected] / Website: www.fao.org/srilanka
‘For a world without hunger’
FAO team in Sri Lanka