Building upon ICEI’s work in the country since 2005, the SRI-PROM projects will strengthen ICEI’s strategy of support to the development of the farming industry, focusing on the reinforcement of social enterprises and microbusinesses, and by establishing local networks to provide sustainable solutions for the problems affecting small farmers.
Notwithstanding a huge potential, Sri Lanka producers are confronted with several difficulties limiting the development of their incomes, including a lack of technical know-how as well as of financial resources to improve production, difficult access to quality inputs, notably seeds, impaired access to domestic and international marketing channels.
In addition, farming activities have serious environmental impacts due to excessive use of chemicals and farming practices that damage soil fertility, adding to the effects of climate change.
The projects intends to contribute to the social and economic development of rural people in Sri Lanka, through the development of highly profitable, eco-sustainable supply chains for small farmers.
In particular, the objective is to improve the supply chains of two traditional Sri Lanka crops (rice and spices), from production to processing and marketing, favoring an ecological and fair trade conversion, promoting the access to domestic and international markets, and establishing public/private partnerships in the districts of Ampara, Monaragala, Badulla and Kandy.
- 500 rice and spice farmers (max 5 acres), of which 30% youths under 35
- 30 micro-entrepreneurs in farm product processing
- 120 technical officers of public and private bodies of the agricultural sector
- Leaders of 5 Sri Lankan organisations joining the Network of Asia and Pacific Producers (NAPP FairTrade)
- 600 farmers gaining from the enhancement of Ecowave processing unit, to which they deliver their produce
- 674 members of the Network of Asia and Pacific Producers (NAPP) will gain from the reinforcement of their organizations
- The farmers’ families (nearly 6,000 people) will gain from increased incomes
Expected results
R1. Enhanced productivity, in terms of quantity and quality, of rice and spices productions, through high-level training and support to product processing.
R2. Ensured steady access to local and international marketing channels for rice and spice farmers, by creating value added for entering the organic and fair-trade markets.
R3. Enabled institutional environment for the development of local farming by establishing structured collaboration between public and private actors and applied scientific research processes.