Top UN agency mulls new push on Lanka’s agro economic dynamo
Saturday, 12 October 2013 00:00
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WFP mulls first national post-war initiative in agro marketing
1.6 m Lankan small farmers in WFP’s support radar
“We thank WFP for its continuous support”: Rishad
“Already piloted in other countries”: WFP’s Omer
The World Food Program, the top food aid arm of the UN, is mulling boosting the agro-economic dynamo of Sri Lanka – the small farmers of the country. The 1.6 million strong Lankan small farmers are the biggest contributor to Sri Lanka’s agro sector.
“We are thinking of buying farm food items from small farmers here. We are talking about their surplus produce as well. While we strengthen their marketing power, we can also redistribute the purchased volumes or surpluses to other underserved segments in the country,” said WFP Representative Country Director in Sri Lanka Ismail Omer.
Omer was addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 2 October in Colombo at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce during his courtesy call on Bathiudeen.
As of 2012, 1.745 million total Lankan farmers of all sizes were nationally engaged in agriculture operating 3,554,287 acres of land plots (of all sizes) among them. Of this total farmer base, a huge 92.3% (1,611,471) were small farmers operating less than five acres (less than five acres is the criteria to be a ‘small farmer’). In that, 1,611,471 farmers were harvesting less than five acre land plots.
They are the biggest contributors to Sri Lanka’s agro sector. Their operational entitlement from the cultivated land total is a massive 71% (2,520,953 acres) of lands (operated by all small farmers!)
When it comes to small farmer (only) ‘household sizes,’ they ranged from ‘one member’ to ‘more than nine member’ households. 27% of small farmers were ‘four member households’ -the largest in the category, cultivating 662,811 acres among them, while 21% were five member households (cultivating 555,486 acres among them) and 19% were three member households (cultivating 290,471 acres among them).
“We are thinking of buying farm food items from small farmers here. We are talking about their surplus produce as well. While we strengthen their marketing power, we can also redistribute the purchased volumes or surpluses to other underserved segments in the country,” said Country Director Omer.
He added: “WFP has come up with the initiative Purchase for Progress (P4P), which is currently piloted in 21 countries. Although Sri Lanka is not among these pilot countries, WFP Sri Lanka would like to develop similar activities here in Sri Lanka. This initiative offers smallholder farmers opportunities to access markets and support them to become competitive players in the market place. P4P concept has links with WFP’s demand for staple food commodities, rice, maize or pulses etc, with the technical expertise of a wide range of partners who can support smallholder farmers to boost their agricultural production and to sell their surplus at a fair price.”
“We thank WFP for their ongoing support to Sri Lankan farmers, especially in strengthening their supply chains in the post war development phase thanks to the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” said Bathiudeen, addressing Omer.
“Humanitarian assistance such as the WFP Cash Voucher Scheme has also helped in marketing. The national Enterprise Development Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is in charge of the sme.lk website so that our SME sector can link with global buyers. I believe WFP efforts can help our small farmers reach similar international goals. If implemented, the WFP initiative can also stimulate our exports,” added Bathiudeen.
WFP’s Cash Voucher Scheme assists nearly 12,000 men, women and children who have recently returned to their homes after decades of displacement. According to WFP in Colombo, the voucher scheme supplements WFP’s general food distribution in the areas where the local markets have the capacity to meet the WFP criteria and demands of the beneficiaries. The vouchers can be redeemed for a choice of specified food items with the equivalent cash value of the voucher.
In Sri Lanka the targeted beneficiaries have given a choice of 20 different essential food items, available in local cooperative shops that can be purchased with the vouchers. WFP has allocated almost 20% of the budget of its two-year Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) for the implementation of the project.
While providing beneficiaries a greater choice and access to food in the local markets through the cash/voucher scheme, the activity injects cash to the local market to boost the economy and food production.
