Enhancing food security and nutrition among the most vulnerable

1. Enhancing food security • and nutrition among the most vulnerable • farm families in eastern Sri Lanka • P. Ramanathan • Programme Officer, ERCU,FAO

2. Background – Eastern Sri Lanka • Many Farming Families repeatedly displaced and are among the country’s poorest and most vulnerable communities • Farmers returning to their former villages and farmland to rebuild their livelihoods • Farmers lack basic agricultural inputs and their former lands and irrigation systems are in serious need of rehabilitation • A need to strengthen the existing system to cater to changing needs

3. Enhancing food security • The demand for food is rising at 1.5 per cent annually, mainly due to population growth and changes in population structure • The growth of demand for food has been projected to reach a level of 3.3 percent annually by 2010, and the agricultural sector faces a challenge of meeting this increased demand • While it is possible that sufficient food remains available at national level, household food security is likely more difficult to achieve, particularly with the wide income disparities amongst the different categories of Sri Lankan society

4. Why food/nutrition insecurity? • Low productivity (agriculture, livestock, fisheries) • Insufficient crop diversification and value adding activities • Inadequate supply of protein-rich foods in the local diet • Large post-harvest losses and seasonal gluts • Lack of farmer participation in “top-down” agricultural development • Need to further decentralize responsibility to provincial authorities and field level officers • Need for an integrated, holistic approach and long-term vision of development to address food insecurity • Need for a mechanism at national level that will ensure a seamless transition between early warning, emergency preparedness, emergency assistance, rehabilitation, recovery and development National Programme for Food Security (NPFS)

5. FAO’s Response MANDATE OF FAO To improve agriculture productivity To fight hunger and improve nutrition To improve the lives of the rural population ROLE of FAO Development Assistance Through wide range of technical assistance projects Emergency and Rehabilitation Assistance Technical expertise in farming, livestock, fishing and forestry crucial in emergency response and rehabilitation efforts in moving crisis affected communities away from dependence on food aid and paving the way for long term sustainable development Information Collects, analyses, interprets and disseminates Advice to Government Agriculture Policy and Planning , Administrative and Legal Structures

6. EC Food Facility Project – Enhancing food security and nutrition among the most vulnerable farm families in eastern Sri Lanka Budget – EURO 5.127 Duration – 2 years Implementing partner - Ministry of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services,Provincial Ministry of Agriculture, EP, UN Agencies, NGOs &CBOs. Beneficiaries – farming families previously displaced by conflict and now returning to their land

7. Project Objective “To restore and enhance agricultural production to ensure food security and improved nutrition for returning or recently resettled farming families in two districts of eastern Sri Lanka.” Project Outcomes/Results • 4000 hectares of abandoned land rehabilitated • 40 small reservoirs and tanks rehabilitated • 20,000 farming families supported • Capacity of extension workers towards market oriented production enhanced contributing to improved market access and increased farm income of small-scale farmers

8. Proposed activities • Reaffirm direct operational partnership with district/provincial Agriculture Department, UN agencies, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders • Conduct baseline surveys and needs assessments and identify beneficiaries in the two project districts; • Initiate procurement of inputs and arrange for delivery arrangements • Procure services for land preparation and other rehabilitation activities • Strengthen agriculture extension and out reach

9. Activities for result 1 • Poor status of land after many years of abandonment • Land ownership – state or title deed or permit holders; with irrigation facility with possibility of 2 seasons cultivation • Clearing and leveling of land with necessary drainage and irrigation channels; designs and contractual arrangement • 4000 beneficiaries ( 1 ha/beneficiary) & 4000 Ha abandoned land rehabilitated and prepared for cultivation.(400 Euro/ Ha)

10. Activities for result 2 Rehabilitation of small reservoirs (40) with community participation, finalizing the list of tanks, contractual arrangements and execution One season of rice, homestead/home gardening support and live stock assistance to ensure food security Improved water management system for 2000 Ha (holdings 0.1 – 0.3 Ha, 16,000 beneficiaries),(11,000 Euro/reservoir)

11. Activities for result 3 • Additional support:

12. Project status • EC and FAO have cleared the project document and government approval is awaited to commence implementation • FAO is initiating action to strengthen the present Field Offices in Trincomalee and Batticaloa and recruit project staff

13. Thank You.