Educating farmers in Ampara to safeguard livelihoods from disasters

04/03/2012 – Ampara, Sri Lanka: As a pilot project Sri Lanka Red Cross Society implemented IDRR project with the funding support of German Red Cross. This project differs from other DRR projects because it highly considers the Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security.

Project is implemented in Ampara, Uhana and Thirukkovil DS divisions for selected six communities and six schools. Among the special features of the IDRR project followings are exceptional,

• Preparing and handing over the Village Disaster Management Plan to the respective stake holders,
• Strengthening VDMC fund so as them to be able to response immediately at any disaster
• Establishing Farmers Field School under the VDMC

Farmers of the selected communities were trained on safer cultivational practices, which can address the issue of climate change and food security.

The trainings have been designed through out the Maha season with 20 sessions facilitated by Agricultural inspectors and our staff members.

These FFSs produce seeds paddy for the next season and the percentage of income by selling seeds goes to VDMC fund and rest is invested on purchasing new varieties to be cultivated for the next season. As a revolving system the quality seeds are made available for the farmers and Agricultural Inspectors of the respective divisions guide the farmers with best practices to standstill with their agricultural products against changing climate.

Kusumawathee is a farmer from Kahatagasyaya (Uhana Division) expressed her views on FFS concept “the overall production of farmers who participated for FFS sessions is actually higher than the others, and we were able to harvest before others without any damage for the production. In our area, most of people are yet to harvest, rain could come and destroy the product as usual…”