FAO 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 01 Integrated Irrigation and Agricultural Livelihood Development in 02 Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts Dairy farming gets a boost in Sri Lanka 03 Handing over renovated Agricultural wells in the 04 Field day on commercial Groundnut cultivation 04 ‘FAO NOW’ 04 FAO Assistant Director General visits Sri Lanka 05 FAO representative as guest of honour 05 UNYAP field visit to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi 06 Staff Professional development and knowledge sharing workshop 06

Over 150 000 people to benefit from FAO/EU support

The Government’s development prog- “Identifying the appropriate require- The project will bridge inter-district rammes for the Northern and Eastern ment at the right time is essential in all disparities helping achieve develop- Provinces commenced with the resettle- sectors of development” said Rohini mental objectives and targets ment of internally displaced people in Singarayer, Project Manager of the articulated at the national level. December 2009. These initiatives European Union funded District FAO’s part in this project will be included the renovation of tanks, Development Programme (EU-SDDP) ‘Poverty Reduction through Agricul- distribution of agricultural tools to the ‘Poverty Reduction Through Agricul- tural Development’.” said Ms farmers and infrastructure and capacity ture Development’. Singarayer. building to the agricultural areas. This project, is a collaborative initiative The aim is to increase income gener- In the past five years, FAO has provided with the International Labour Organiza- ation opportunities and access to technical expertise in the agriculture, tion (ILO), United Nations Develop- infrastructure and services for the fisheries and livestock sectors and ment Programme (UNDP), United most exposed groups in the agricul- matched its know-how with resources to Nations Office for Project Services tural sector in the target locations. revive livelihoods and build community (UNOPS), International Finance Enhanced income generation reach- and government capacities. Corporation (IFC) and United ing at least 50 000 people will Nations Children’s Fund improve and sustain livelihoods. This (UNICEF) and it is implemented will be achieved through production through the Ministry of Economic increases, post-harvest technology Development. and diversification for small scale primary producers. Infrastructure will “The project will support the also be improved by offering transition from recovery to services for local productive activities sustainable development in the to be used by at least 150 000 districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, beneficiaries. Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapu- ra, Monaragala and Puttalam by FAO will support the introduction of addressing the needs of the most value-addition and product diversifica- tion through technology and skills Study of the feasibility of big onion true vulnerable groups and creating transfers. The project will continue seeds production in the project area the right conditions for market and business expansion. until April 2017.

Intergrated Irrigation and Agricultural Livelihood Development in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts (GCP/SRL/061/EC)

Location map of Rehabilitated irrigation tanks

Kilinochchi district

Mullativu district

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’.

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.

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Handing over Rehabilitated ‘Thanduwankulam’ tank to the Farmers

Thanduwankulam tank in 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. Mr Vethanayagan, Government Agent of Mullaitivu , Mr Vanderberghe, Head of Operations, EU/Sri Lanka and The tank was rehabilitated under the recently completed FAO Mr Wijekumar, Asstistant Commissioner of Agrarian project funded by the European Union “Integrated Development, inaugurates the rehabilitation tank. 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.

Dairy farming gets a boost in Sri Lanka

The project addresses the Farmers who are struggling with lack of knowledge in cattle production and following problems encountered by pro- feeding techniques are to receive a helping hand from the Food and gressive dairy farmers with cross-bred Agriculture Organization. The Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community cattle; Development (MLRCD) identified a critical need and approached FAO for • appropriate alternatives to feed their support. cattle where free-range grazing is not possible due to land constraints; "By raising awareness and improving technical knowledge, we hope to • lack of knowledge in high nutritional strengthen the capacity of dairy farmers within Sri Lanka." said Dr Premalal demand in critical stages of growth and Kuruppuarachchi, Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes). production in crossbred cattle; • lack of knowledge or adequate aware- ness in appropriate feeding techniques to optimize the utilization of limited feed resources base.

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

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Handing over renovated Agricultural Field day on commercial groundnut wells in the Mullaitivu District cultivation

Children of the village by a renovated well

Field day on groundnut cultivation under the crop diversification programme in paddy lands, Olumadu

In January 2014 FAO in partnership with the Department FAO along with its implementing partner ZOA renovated of Agriculture, embarked on an initiative to improve 35 damaged food production wells in the Mullaitivu ‘Groundnut Production in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi district at a cost of LKR 6.84million with the financial Districts’ under the ‘Food Security in the Northern Prov- assistance of the Australian Government / AusAid. These ince’ programme with US$ 0.7 million funding from the wells were formally handed over to the resettled farming Royal Norwegian Government. On Tuesday, 8 July 2014, families of the Puthukkudiyerippu Division on 30 June a Field Day was organized by the Department of Agricul- 2014 at the Divisional Secretariat. The Government ture in cooperation with FAO to demonstrate the success Agent in Mullaitivu, the Divisional Secretary of the of farmers who were engaged in commercial groundnut Puthukkudiyeruppu as well as Officials from FAO and cultivation, from Olumadu, Periyapuliyankulam, and ZOA participated in this event. The objective of the well Thatchadampan in the Oddusuddan DS Division in the renovation is to increase cultivation of Other Field Crops Mullaitivu District. Mrs J Jeganathan Deputy Director, (OFCs), fruit and vegetables through the use of lift Head quarters, Provincial Department of Agriculture- irrigation. Developing the capacity of the smallholder Northern Province participated as the chief guest and Mr E farmers to carry out productive farming activities will Vijayakumar, Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Service enable a sustainable source of income and ensure food Department, Mullaitivu participated as the special guest at security for farming families. this event.

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FAO Assistant Director-General visits Sri Lanka

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 ADG on a field visit to KIlinochchi FAO programmes both in 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.

ADG with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, ADG with Hon. Rajitha Senaratne, ADG with Hon. Mahinda Yapa Minister of Economic Development Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Re- Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture source Development

FAO Representative as guest of honour at the OPA conference

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- Ms Crawford with the other speakers ering that poverty runs deepest in rural areas, it is clear where 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.

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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 The YAPsters in discussion with the villagers employment opportunities.

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 FAO team in Sri Lanka 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’ 6