JICA partners UNDP to procure urgently needed 200 tons of maize seeds for Maha season

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, JICA Sri Lanka Chief Representative Yamada Tetsuya and UNDP Sri Lanka Officer-in-Charge Malin Herwig together with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, JICA and UNDP in Sri Lanka

To address the immediate needs of the ongoing socio-economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Sri Lanka will procure a significant portion of maize seed requirements in Sri Lanka, targeting the Maha cultivation season. 

Maize is a staple input in the livestock feed industry and maize-based food items such as Thriposha and Samaposha, and the demand for seeds has swelled over recent years. 

Sri Lanka is expected to face over a 60% drop in crop production this Yala cultivation season which will decline farmers’ income to half, creating a cascading effect during the next Maha cultivation season growing the current socio-economic crisis to its worse end. 

However, due to shortages related to the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka, only approximately 50% of the seed requirement is readily available in the country to supplement cultivation in the Maha season. JICA recognised the immediate need to import seeds and achieve the balance requirement for the soon approaching season.

Highlighting the role of JICA in contributing towards food security needs, JICA Sri Lanka Chief Representative Yamada Tetsuya said: “Currently, the supply chain of livestock and food production is affected by shortage of the maize seeds, affecting the availability and affordability of some essential food items, and giving rise to nutritional concerns for the population, which we hope to resolve through the JICA’s collaborative assistance with UNDP.”

JICA and UNDP will work with the Ministry of Agriculture to procure and supply approximately 200 MT (200,000 kg) of maize seeds to farmer organisations in the dry zone districts of Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the timeliness of the intervention, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said: “I highly appreciate, the support provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency together with the United Nations Development Program, to boost the agriculture sector of our country. 

“Currently our Government, has launched a comprehensive program to solve the food crisis in our nation. Accordingly, we have prepared all the plans to carry out paddy cultivation of 800,000 hectares and maize cultivation of 60,000 hectares in this Maha season. There was a problem, in getting the maize seeds needed for this. We currently have maize seeds for about 58,000 hectares. I highly appreciate this step taken by you to provide 200 MT of Maize seed on behalf of the Government.”

Commenting on the role of UNDP in bringing together stakeholders and facilitating such processes in times of need, UNDP Sri Lanka Officer-in-Charge Malin Herwig said: “UNDP brings together stakeholders at a critical time to provide support with speed and transparency. 

“Through procurement efforts such as this, the need of the hour can be addressed ahead of the season to reduce risk for food insecurity. We look forward to working closely with JICA counterparts in the timely supply of Maize to farmers in the Dry Zone.”