Urgent transition to sustainable agriculture vital for food security: FAO, IFAD and WFP

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera

UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche

FAO Representative Vimlendra Sharan

WFP Officer in Charge Gerard Rebello

Youth Climate Activist, Eng Tharika Fernando

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), yesterday marked World Food Day by calling for urgent action towards sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in Sri Lanka.

In a 2021 report by FAO and UN Water, Sri Lanka was classified as ‘highly water stressed’ with a 90.8% indicator, reflecting the significant pressure from human activities on its freshwater resources and their sustainability[1]. Total freshwater withdrawal in Sri Lanka is estimated at 12.95 billion m3 annually with about 82% of the total withdrawal used for paddy irrigation alone and a little over 5% used to irrigate other crops[2]. Sri Lanka also ranks consistently high on the Global Climate Risk Index, particularly in terms of climate risks associated with impact on water resources.

Considering this the UN food agencies (FAO, IFAD, and WFP) highlighted the urgent need for Sri Lanka to transform its agrifood systems at an event held to commemorate World Food Day under the auspices of Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. 

The event highlighted the modern approaches supported by the agencies with potential for national scale-up towards sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. The voices of young people were also amplified at the event through debates, art, and a special address by youth climate activist Tharika Fernando.

In his keynote address, Minister Amaraweera reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s unwavering dedication to achieving food security for all. He emphasized the importance of agriculture and food security as national priorities and stressed the government’s commitment to bolstering the agricultural sector to withstand future climate-induced challenges. The Minister also expressed gratitude for the technical support provided by the UN food agencies in this endeavour.

Speaking at the event, UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche stated “In the face of increasing water stress and climate vulnerabilities, sustainable and climate-resilient practices are not just an option; they are a necessity. The United Nations continues to work together with Sri Lanka to fortify its water and food systems and is committed to ensuring a future where everyone has access to sufficient and nutritious food, and where no one goes hungry.”

FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan emphasized the organization’s commitment to helping Sri Lanka transform its agrifood systems. “FAO is committed to working with the government to ensure that Sri Lanka’s agriculture and fisheries sectors are climate-resilient to ensure food security in Sri Lanka for generations to come. We are working with farmers and fishers across the island to reduce waste, pollution, and climate vulnerabilities,” he said.

IFAD’s Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Sherina Tabassum said: “Climate change has made availability of water for agriculture precarious. Small-scale farmers sometimes do not have enough water, and other times too much. That makes irrigation systems increasingly important, so small-scale farmers can continue to produce food with uninterrupted water supply. IFAD works with the government and farming communities to enable farmers to access innovative technologies such as solar-powered tanks as well as to rehabilitate traditional methods like tank cascade systems, so that farmers can cultivate around the year, helping them move from low-productivity subsistence farming to irrigated agriculture that feeds the country.”

 “Food security has been in the spotlight in the recent past, but too often we forget that there is no food security without water security,” said WFP Sri Lanka Deputy Country Director and Officer in Charge Gerard Rebello. “WFP, together with our partners, is supporting the Government to make food systems more sustainable and resilient to extreme weather conditions, with emphasis on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, so that food travels uninterrupted from farm to table all year long.

FAO, IFAD and WFP together with the United Nations system in Sri Lanka are on the ground actively promoting sustainable and climate-resilient approaches towards food security in Sri Lanka.

From left: WFP Officer in Charge Gerard Rebello, UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Youth Climate Activist, Eng Tharika Fernando and FAO Representative Vimlendra Sharan

Dignitaries with the winning Rotaract debate team from the University of Peradeniya