Banana Cultivation for War Affected Families

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

Palmera will provide assistance to 20 farmers in the village of Mallikaithivu, Mullituvu to recommence banana cultivation, enabling them to earn an income and supplement other food sources. These beneficiary families have returned to their village of Mallikaithivu after two and a half years in IDP camps. Their village was destroyed during the war and there are little opportunities for livelihoods. The families lack access to water, sanitation and food.

Palmera will assist by providing banana plants, water pumps and farming equipment. These farmers already have the skills and knowledge to successfully farm the land. This assistance will enable them to recommence banana cultivation, earning a regular income. The banana plantation will begin yielding bananas as soon as December 2013, and will continue to yield bananas for 3 years. The water pumps and farming equipment can be used for future agriculture.

THE BENEFITS

  • Provides 20 farmers and their families with the means to earn a regular income for at least 3 years (around 60,000-100,000 rupees over the 3 years)
  • With a regular income, these families can access food, water and other basic needs
  • The bananas will provide a highly nutritional food source to supplement the families’ diets
  • Recommencing farming utilizes the farmers’ skills and knowledge, and provides them with a livelihood through which they can contribute to development of the local economy
  • The water pumps which will be a significant component of this investment, will also be used to cultivate vegetables in the nearby areas

BACKGROUND

In September 2012 around 300 families were resettled from the Menik farm IDP camp to the village of Mallikaithivu in Mullituvu. The village was destroyed during the war and as a consequence, there are very few opportunities for livelihoods. Families are unable to fulfil even basic needs such as food, water and shelter. Many of the families were farming prior to the war. With Palmera’s support, the 20 beneficiary farmers can recommence cultivating bananas, and earn a regular income.

A major investment component of this project is installing water pumps which will pump water from wells to the plantation area. In addition to being used for other vegetable farms nearby, the water pumps will be available for future water intensive projects.

Palmera has recently worked with the Centre for Child Development in Mullituvu, to provide peanut grains and agricultural assistance to 150 families when they first returned to the village in late 2012. These families have successfully recommenced farming. x

OUR PARTNER

The Centre for Child Development is a local NGO that works towards improving the lives of children in Sri Lanka. The organization has experience and expertise in working with communities that have resettled in Sri Lanka. As noted above, Palmera has worked successfully with CFCD in the past and looks forward to working together again.