Funded by the United Nations Sri Lanka Sustainable Development Goal Fund, the Good Agricultural Practices programme supports vegetable farmers in commercializing their produce and optimizing agricultural practices.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has implemented a successful Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) programme in Sri Lanka, leading to significant improvements in crop yields and farmer incomes. The initiative, which targeted 645 farmers across three districts, has modernized cultivation techniques, resulting in bumper crops and enhanced financial stability for local farmers.
The GAP programme was launched in response to severe food security challenges exacerbated by Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis. Funded by the United Nations Sri Lanka Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Fund, the programme supports vegetable farmers in commercializing their produce and optimizing agricultural practices.
As part of the programme, participating farmers received comprehensive agriculture kits that included essential tools such as drip irrigation systems, plastic mulch, and insect-proof netting. These resources are designed to reduce cultivation costs and improve the efficiency of resource use, including fertilizers, pesticides, and water.
In addition to receiving the kits, farmers were trained in GAP principles through a Farmer Field School (FFS) organized by the FAO. This training emphasized environmental sustainability, food safety, quality, economic viability, and social acceptability. The hands-on approach of the FFS allowed farmers to gain national GAP certification and effectively implement modern techniques such as drip irrigation, insect netting, and plastic mulching.
Economic crisis
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka, marked by mismanagement and external shocks, has significantly impacted the nation. The 2019 Easter bombings and the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected tourism, a key source of foreign revenue. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to ban chemical fertilizers in 2021, aiming for an “all organic” farming approach, devastated the tea industry, Sri Lanka’s primary export crop. The subsequent reversal of the fertilizer ban, combined with global grain shortages due to the war in Ukraine, has intensified the country’s food insecurity.
Amidst these economic difficulties, widespread protests against the Rajapaksa government led to political upheaval, resulting in the government’s collapse and the fleeing of the ruling family. This crisis has left Sri Lanka in political and economic disarray.
Despite these challenges, the FAO’s GAP programme has provided a beacon of hope, demonstrating how targeted interventions can foster agricultural resilience and economic recovery in the face of severe adversity.
