The agriculture sector in Sri Lanka provides a means of livelihood for approximately 12 million people, the majority of whom are dependent on very small plots of land for the use of farming. 90 percent of all land holdings are less than 5 acres; 42 percent are less than one acre. Although Sri Lanka’s small-holder farmers are able to achieve relatively high yields from their lands, their income levels have declined drastically.
Changing weather patterns and globalization has increased their vulnerability over the past 20 years. Global climate change and local deforestation are disrupting traditional rainfall patterns and contributing to droughts, floods, erosion and crop loss. At the same time, farmers are far more dependent on external markets and externally purchased inputs than they were in the past.
Trade monopolies also restrict agricultural livelihoods. Production is seasonal, and most farmers in a geographical area produce the same crops. At harvest time, regional prices are low, but farmers are forced to sell their harvest because they lack storage facilities and they need cash immediately for consumption and loan repayment. Most of the value of rural production is captured by a relatively small group of traders and they have very limited access to storage, processing, transport, and retail facilities.
Some of our agriculture support services include:
Changing weather patterns and globalization has increased their vulnerability over the past 20 years. Global climate change and local deforestation are disrupting traditional rainfall patterns and contributing to droughts, floods, erosion and crop loss. At the same time, farmers are far more dependent on external markets and externally purchased inputs than they were in the past.
Trade monopolies also restrict agricultural livelihoods. Production is seasonal, and most farmers in a geographical area produce the same crops. At harvest time, regional prices are low, but farmers are forced to sell their harvest because they lack storage facilities and they need cash immediately for consumption and loan repayment. Most of the value of rural production is captured by a relatively small group of traders and they have very limited access to storage, processing, transport, and retail facilities.
Some of our agriculture support services include:
- Promoting Organic and Ecological Farming among communities
- Working with families to develop organic home gardens for improved household food security and nutrition
- Providing microfinance services (through the sister organization Sewa Community Credit) to reduce dependency on high-interest credit from middlemen-traders
- Coordinating training and extension support to reduce external inputs, transition to market-oriented production and increase agro-biodiversity
- Facilitating regional and international exchanges for farmers to share information, techniques and experiences
- Assisting producer groups with market information, collective marketing programs, internal control systems and direct trade linkages