Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal!
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
A landslide has flattened a village at Meeriyabedda in Koslanda in the Badulla District on the 29th of October. At the time of writing there are 12 people dead, and 26 missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Victims were asleep or busy with the morning household chores and had no chance of escape.
The village was primarily a tea-growing region but the landslide, caused by heavy monsoon rains, has devastated the area. Around 72 families have been directly affected by this landslide. There are children who had gone to school and are now without their parents, and other families whose homes have been destroyed.
WHAT IS THIS PROJECT ABOUT?
The first 48 hours after a disaster are critical. Palmera has already started work, providing food and other essential items for the survivors. This will help survivors meet their basic needs, and for children, it will provide them with some recreational activities to help keep spirits up.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
We are providing staples such as rice, lentils and flour. We are also providing school supplies, toiletries and recreation for the approximate 200 children whose lives have been uprooted with some losing both parents in the disaster.
We now seek the funds to support our efforts.
THE BENEFITS
Survivors will have their basic needs met in the immediate aftermath of the landslide
Children will have some recreational activities to keep their spirits up during this tragic time
Survivors don’t need to worry about getting the basic items and can turn their attention to rebuilding their lives.
BACKGROUND
The village at Meeriyabedda in the Badulla district is about 220 kilometres south-east of Colombo. It marks the southeast extremity of the Hill Country and is famous for its tea plantations.
Most of Sri Lanka has experienced heavy rain over the past few weeks during the monsoon season. The Disaster Management Center had issued warnings of mudslides. A local government official said that the area has been marked vulnerable since 2008 and even evacuation drills had been conducted.
A joint rescue operation was underway with the army, police, air force and the district administration participating with all their resources in search of survivors but had to be called off due to bad weather. Rescue missions are continuing at the time of writing.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
RANJINI
Ranjini lives in a village in Sri Lanka’s North called Irruttumaddu with her husband and four children. Ranjini used to make her living by selling ground nuts. Since returning to her land, after being in refugee camps for over 2 years, Ranjini has been able to slowly rebuild her business and her life. But these days, running her business is getting harder. Costs are rising, the market has new quality requirements and the middle man seems to be eating into her profits. Ranjini’s way of farming is no longer providing her the profits she once benefited from. She is worried about how she will earn enough income from her farm to continue to support the needs of her family.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
We will be working with 223 farmers to introduce new agricultural techniques that allow them to self produce inputs, improve water management, strengthened soil management and improve farm productivity. This will improve yield by and estimated 50 – 60%. This will in turn significantly improve income and allow families to better stand on their own two feet.
Collectively, we will then work with all 223 farmers to create powerful platform to better engage with the market, to improve bargaining skills, so that the farmers can improve their market power and in turn their price and their profit.
WHY WE ARE DOING IT
In Sri Lanka most of the country’s poor live in rural areas. Their farms are their main source of income. However the poorest are increasingly being left out, due to rising market barriers which means they are unable to access the best price and the best buyers. A lack of knowledge means that they have minimal bargaining power and can be easily taken advantage of more powerful private actors. Empowering farmers with critical market knowledge and teaching innovative agricultural techniques to improve farm productivity and manage the rising water and environmental challenges is critical for them to continue to earn an income from their farms and be included in profitable markets.
By earning an income, families then can stand on their own two feet and not be dependent on aid or welfare. They are able to meet their basic needs and pursue goals important to them. Women like Ranjini can send her children to school, pay for health care facilities and even take them to beach for an ice cream one day!
HOW WE ARE DOING IT
We have identified entrepreneurial peanut farmers in the Village of Irruttumadu, just like Ranjini. With these farmers, we worked with local experts and identified new practices and technologies that could significantly improve the yield of the farmers in the village. The estimated yield increase is approximately 50 – 60%.
Adoption of new practices takes time and in many instances, the poorest are reluctant to engage with these practices because of the risks of the unfamiliar.
In this project we will be working closely with 30 small scale farmers in the village who we call early adopters. They are stronger peanut farmers who see the potential of these practices and are willing to trial and test the method.
We will be providing training on 18 key innovative practices during their harvest, providing close mentoring, linking with the agricultural extension services and subsidising the inputs required for these new practices as an incentive to adopt these new techniques.
A key part of these innovative techniques is training farmers on how to self produce some of their inputs, including seeds. This is critical as quality seeds is one of the key barriers that prevents many from having thriving farms.
Through the engagement of these early adopters and through the results they produce, we want to accelerate adoption through the village to significantly improve their production and quality of another 193 farmers (working with a total of 223 farmers). This will in turn enable Ranjini and the other farmers to better access profitable markets, increase their incomes and improve their ability to meet their daily needs.
Palmera technical training is underpinned by a values based approach which forms the foundation of how we work. This includes many activities, including Pass the Gift, which is a process by which farmers have to pass some of their inputs to the next group of farmers as a way of sharing learnings and giving back to their community. The social capital created through this programme is critical for the ongoing sustainability of the livelihoods in this village.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Palmera follows a holistic village approach in how we work. We call this Village2Markets and you can read more about it here.
Easy as peanuts is part of a 5 – 7 year village wide programme that we will run in Irruttumaddu between January 2017 – December 2021 / December 2023. Our approach seeks to improve income in a range of subsectors, as the poorest work in diversified businesses in order to sustain their income. Our model also seeks to improve savings, as without a safety net there is no long resilience and finally to build social capital and reduce vulnerability.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
In order to transform the livelihoods of 223 farmers in Irruttumaddu the cost is as little as $324 per farmer; only $65 a year over the 5-year programme. When everyone comes together, we hope to raise $72,186 so we can support all the farmers in the village to stand on their own two feet.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal!
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent history. This drought has caused widespread crop failures, which in Sri Lanka’s primarily agricultural economy means rural families have lost their livelihoods and are now struggling to meet their basic needs. Since most rural families’ major source of food comes from farming their own land, malnutrition has significantly increased and immediate help is needed to prevent famine.
In order to cope, families have often had to sell assets or take on loans. This causes problems as it means the effects of the drought will continue long after weather conditions improve. Many people have also had to leave their homes in order to find day labourer work, but these jobs are few and far between. This also creates serious social problems as families are separated and parents are unable to look after their children. Palmera’s Emergency Relief Appeal will provide much needed help to villagers in Sri Lanka’s worst hit Vavuniya District.
WHAT IS THIS PROJECT ABOUT?
Palmera will work with our project partner FOSDOO to provide short-term emergency food packages to 289 people in four of the most severely drought affected villages. These food packages will be a replacement source of food until the drought is over and the people of Vavuniya District are able to return to agricultural production for their livelihoods. In exchange for this short-term support beneficiaries will be asked to participate in community works projects that benefit the village.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
Over a period of two months Palmera and FOSDOO will purchase and deliver emergency relief packages consisting of basic foods such as rice, flour and soya meat to the beneficiaries. These food packages will meet the families’ nutritional needs until the worst of the drought is over.
In exchange for these food packages, Palmera and FOSDOO will organise common works projects in the village that the beneficiaries will be asked to contribute to. These common works projects will involve jobs such as clearing roads and vegetation and fixing drainage systems. Work for food programs discourage aid reliance and ensure communities are sustainable. By asking beneficiaries to help their community in exchange for support, they gain a sense of self-efficacy as well as the long term benefits that come from improving their communities.
THE BENEFITS
Villagers will be able to meet their basic food needs until the drought is over.
Long-term impact of the drought is reduced, as families are not forced to sell assets or take out loans to meet food needs.
Families stay together, and parents will be able to stay in their home villages and care for their children.
Beneficiaries can return to local agricultural production when the drought is over.
Common works programs allow beneficiaries to contribute to the long term benefits of their villages.
BACKGROUND
This current drought comes at the end of three previous years of unpredictable and extreme weather, which has seriously damaged agricultural production. Drought in 2012 and flooding in 2013 have meant that rural families have built up unsustainable levels of debt, lack water stockpiles for irrigation, have limited quality seed supply and have experienced long-term declines in income. Since 2012, it is estimated food insecurity has doubled to affect 768,000 people in 2014.
Now this current drought is believed to be even more severe. Sri Lanka’s economy is dependent on agricultural production. For people in the Vavuniya District, a rural area that is especially reliant on agricultural production, the consequences of this extreme drought are especially significant. Urgent help is needed to meet short-term food needs.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal!
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Children and youth in rural villages rarely get the benefit of structured activities outside of schooling, because of the lack of services that reach these isolated areas.
In Sri Lanka schooling has not adapted for more children friendly learning styles and critical life and employment skills necessary for children to succeed. Rather schooling is focused on examinations and admissions into university, of which only 2% of children in Sri Lanka have access to
THE BENEFITS
The project will directly impact 80 children and youth between the ages of 8 – 28.
Provide critical life and employment based skills for youth transitioning from school to employment
Provide access to new skills for children ages 8 – 14 and a platform for them to understand and voice their concerns in areas not discussed in schools
Strengthen social capital in the village by connecting children and youth
Develop community connections between the children and youth through community service learning projects where children engage to help build the community
HOW WILL THE PROJECT WORK
We will engage with children, youth and their parents to firstly communicate the value of children and youth clubs.
We will share a structured syllabus, licensed from New Horizon’s IMPACT CLUBS, which leverages a evidenced based approaches. Each week children and youth will meet with trained facilitators and work through core modules, from environment, nutrition, human rights, leadership etc.
Youth will also engage in modules that will prepare them for both formal employment, such as time management, team work etc as well as build entrepreneurship skills, teaching base business skills, budgeting etc.
Critical to the programs is a Community Service Learning project. Here, youth members will identify and engage in community projects in which they can apply the skills that they are trained in.
HOW WE ENSURE THE PROJECT IS SUSTAINABLE AFTER WE LEAVE
This program forms part of a 5 year village program in the village of Kanthansamy Nagar.
A local facilitator will be identified and will participate in leading each of the weekly sessions. We aim to build the capacity of local village leaders so they can continue these programs once we exit.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
There are currently no sustainable sources of income for families in Timbalee village, Mullaithivu District. As a result, families struggle to meet their daily needs for water & food, and exposed to the changing weather as they are living in temporary shelters. There is also no school in the village which means children have to walk long distances to the neighbouring village.
This project will provide 20 female headed families in Timbalee village with a hybrid cow and 12 months training on cattle management & business marketing. Twice a year the cattle will also receive free vaccination through the local agricultural department.
The project will reduce their food insecurity with the cow’s milk as a nutritious food source; the milk will also be sold in the market to earn an income. The income will allow them to weather proof their homes and provide bicycles for children’s daily travel. The project will also provide income generating opportunities for others in the community as the hybrid cow is expected to breed multiple calves over its lifetime.
THE BENEFITS
Provides a nutritious food source for the families (5-6L milk per day)
Provides families an income to meet basic needs like water, food and shelter. An expected income of 50,000-115,000 rupees per year
Assist children’s education through purchase of bicycles for daily travels
The project is replicable for others in the community as the hybrid cow will breed multiple calves over its lifetime
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. With Palmera’s support, the 20 beneficiaries can begin earning an income to fulfil these daily needs.
Palmera has recently worked with the Centre for Child Development in Mullituvu, to provide banana plants, water pumps and farming equipment to 20 families when they first returned to the village in early 2013. These families have started selling their bananas in the market and earning an income.
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.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
HOW DOES THE FUND WORK?
The fund has been designed as a revolving community fund. This means that once the initial loans are repaid, that money is then given out as new loans to allow more women to start new businesses.
The fund is owned and managed by the community and does not make any profit – it’s really set up purely for the benefit of the community. It allows for women to try new and/or slightly risky business ventures. Ultimately, this is aimed at creating opportunities for these courageous and dedicated women to earn a regular income and set up a meaningful life for themselves and their families.
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
The community currently meets regularly. Initially a volunteer NGO officer will manage the fund and discuss loans with the community members. But over the course of three years, the community members will take ownership and decide who receives a loan and manage the flow of funds. It also means that women are more likely to repay the loans as, in a sense, they are paying back the loan to their fellow community members. In time, investments can also be bigger, say for a community-wide project.
SUSTAINABILITY
Over time, as the fund can loan out larger sums of money to community-wide projects, the community will become less reliant on aid. This type of self-managed loan fund really empowers the community. The people can decide which businesses or projects get funds, and can direct funds to the areas of the economy that it sees as needing investment.
THE BENEFITS
Women receiving the loans will also receive training on how to regularly save and repay the loan so they can succeed in become financially independent.
Loan repayments will be in line with the expected income of the women receiving the loan so they will be less likely to fall behind on a repayment
The women will also receive training in skills related to running their business (eg. skills for home gardening or goat rearing)
A 12-18 month loan will allow the beneficiary to take small risks which they ordinarily couldn’t, for instance, goat-rearing requires an initial outlay to buy the pregnant goat and only a small income for the first 12 months. The mother goat is then sold in the market. As the birthing cycle is established, income becomes more regular.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Palmera will provide capacity building in business development for a social enterprise Café set up Battambang, a town on the border of Cambodia and Thailand. The primary purpose of the Café will be to provide hospitality training and support to disadvantaged youth in Battambang, to enable them to gain employment and livelihoods. The café is a profit-making enterprise with profits directed to initiatives to rescue kids from the streets and reintegrate them back with their families and society. These initiatives are run by Homeland, a local partner of Palmera.
Palmera will review the commercial strategy of the Café and provide support in financial management, marketing and other aspects of the business. Palmera’s focus is ensuring the sustainability of this enterprise—both as a social and for-profit business. This sustainability will enable Homeland to continue to provide the range of social services that it currently provides in the region.
THE BENEFITS
Provides skills and training to the Café employees in running a successful business – both commercially and for social gain
Enables the Café’s Fresh Eats training program to operate successfully
Enables skills and values training for the most disadvantaged and high-potential youth, culminating in a graduate which will enable them to gain employment and independence
Through giving priority to women, who are often more vulnerable in Cambodian culture, the project will seek to address gender inequalities in the community
Contributes to meeting the demand for high-quality hospitality graduates in Battambang’s growing tourism industry.
Contributes a local source of income for the local NGO Homeland’s principal function as a care centre for at risk children.
BACKGROUND
The Fresh Eats Café has been operating for 2 years as a social enterprise. This capacity building will enable the Café to continue operating and successfully deliver the Fresh Eats training program as well as make a profit which can be redirected to Homeland, the local NGO.
Battambang in Cambodia has a growing tourism industry. It is the main hub of the Northwest, connecting the entire region with Phnom Penh and Thailand, and as such it’s a vital link for Cambodia. Improving the hospitality skills of the local youth will lead to higher employment and economic growth in the region. These youth can also then serve as role models for future generations.
The participants for Fresh Eats training program are selected carefully through an extensive social outreach initiative with selection based on disadvantage and potential for successful completion of the program. Women are given priority as in Cambodia women often lack access to employment and education opportunities compared to their male counterparts.
OUR PARTNER
For this project, Palmera will continue to work with Homeland (Meato Phum Ko’Mah), a locally registered Cambodian NGO. Since 1997 Homeland has been supporting street children, trafficked children and children affected by HIV/AIDS at the Homeland residential centre in Battambang. Cambodia.
Homeland’s approach is to work sustainably and in partnership with the community to improve the lives and well being of vulnerable children and families and to facilitate family reunification wherever possible, while at all times upholding the best interests of the children.
As the children grow older, Homeland tries to equip them through vocational training with a skill set that will enhance their employment prospects and give them the independence they need to begin to build their own lives as adults.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Growing population pressure and urbanization, coupled with land degradation and frequent climate change are causing food insufficiency in most parts of Sri Lanka.
A well-developed and maintained home garden has the potential to supply most of the non-staple food that a family needs every day of the year, providing adequate nutrition to the family on a regular basis and may even bring a small side income. The significance of homegardens to rural livelihoods is well appreciated throughout the world. Homegarden has been described as an important social and economic unit of rural households, from which a diverse and stable supply of economic products and benefits are derived. Therefore is it a great way to overcome lack of basic food and nutrition security among most vulnerable families.
THE BENEFITS
The project will directly impact 40 families and indirectly benefit 120 people.
Provide food security for 40 families, giving them access to nutritious foods to feed their families. Raising different vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants on available land in and around the house premises is the easiest way to ensure access to healthy, fresh and poison-free food. This is especially important in rural areas where people have limited income-earning opportunities and the economically poor have less or no access to healthy food markets.
Alleviate the micro nutrient deficiencies, quite a common phenomenon in rural areas
Improve financial literacy so they can understand the different financial providers and have access to more effective and reasonable financial providers
Reduce Mal nourishment and nutrition deficiency disorders which are common among rural women and children
Teach families important agricultural techniques which can be utilised for crops grown for commercial purposes
HOW WILL THE PROJECT WORK?
We will identify farmers who are both vulnerable and have a propensity to extend what they learn through the home gardening techniques to grow crops for commercial purposes. The purpose of this is to ensure both food security and a pathway to increasing income.
We will engage experts to train families on how to grow a variety of crops to best meet their nutritional needs and effectively utilise scarce water resources.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THE PROJECT IS SUSTAINABLE AFTER WE LEAVE?
This program forms part of a 5 year village program in the village of Kanthansamy Nagar.
By working with the farmers to build the necessary skills & develop their knowledge, the impact of this program can continue well after we exit.
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.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
Helping restore lives, health and dignity by providing toilets and tube wells for 32 families in Kandasamynagar Village.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
The 32 families of this village were forced to leave during the 1990s and have only just returned after spending two decades in refugee camps in India.
“We had lived in the camps in India for 21 years. There, we had toilets in our home; here we do not. We try to eat fewer foods because we fear going long distances at night. When our relatives or classmates wish to come to our house, we are not in a position to invite them. We will not tell them that there is no toilet facility on our house. Everyday my sister is crying about this situation.”
– Sundareshwari, Resident of the village
Returning to their village after 2010, the 32 families found that their homes and land were destroyed, and they were left with nothing. They are currently living in temporary shelters with no toilet facilities and only one common well in the village that does not provide enough water for everyone.
The lack of access to water and sanitation causes many problems. Without toilets, the villagers have to go into the forest for this basic need. This is especially unsafe for women, young children and people with a disability.
Without an adequate source of water, sometimes the villagers have to travel more than 1-2 km to collect water for drinking. Also, the local Kallaru River is being used for bathing and laundering purposes. Ultimately, all these issues cause poor health and hygiene, many cases of water-borne diseases and environmental degradation.
Kumari, one of the mothers in the village shares that There is the school in front of our house and behind is the temple of Goddess Kali. Therefore, we need to go far away to the jungle, which is a huge threat. Most of the time, the men are going there for work purposes and we don’t have any privacy. A toilet will make a big difference for our family.
HOW THIS PROJECT WILL WORK?
Palmera will provide toilets, 2 additional communal tube wells, and training on health and hygiene to the 32 families in Kandasamynagar village.
As part of constructing the toilets, we will incorporate the needs of the 4 families that include people with a disability. The construction of the toilets for these families will be tailored to ensure disability access is provided. Additionally, bore wells will be constructed to ensure they can be used by people with a disability as well.
Training through our Health Awareness Program is essential to this project because it is education that creates long-term behavioural changes. Knowledge of health, hygiene and the maintenance of toilets ensures the villagers are able to experience better health for the rest of their lives.
Local employment will be hired for the toilet and tube well construction. This will create a sense of ownership of the project and provide much needed income to the villagers.
THE BENEFITS
By supporting this project you will be helping these villagers to rebuild their community. Specifically your investment will provide:
Access to clean water and sanitation so infection from water-borne disease will be reduced and the men, women and children of the village can lead healthier lives.
Better health so that children can spend more time at school, and adults miss less days of work. This means in the long-term, education and income will increase, and poverty will be reduced in this village.
Increased safety because water and toilets are closer to home. Travelling long distances into the forest areas alone is dangerous, especially for women and children.
Above all, access to clean water and sanitation means improved dignity, freedom and choice, as the villagers can take pride in their homes and community.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THE PROJECT IS SUSTAINABLE AFTER WE LEAVE?
The project was co-designed with the villagers, to ensure local needs are best being met.
A village committee will be formed to manage the maintenance of the bore wells. The first two years maintenance costs is included in this project.
Toilets have been designed with local weather conditions in mind, ensuring that they can withstand floods. Training on the maintenance of these toilets will be given to all 32 families.
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.
WHY ARE WE INVESTED IN THIS PROJECT?
Without new technologies and practices, farmers like Saraanya continue to be excluded from the most profitable markets.
Saraanya lacks the skills to get her peanuts the right size now required by the most profitable buyer who exports the peanuts internationally, she doesn’t know how to protect her crops from the increasing risk of flood in the area and with the rising costs of inputs, her farm is losing money which makes it tough for her to meet her family’s daily needs.
In order to address these new challenges, better farming practices and technologies has been identified with the assistance of local experts that will transform Saraanya’s farm enabling her to increase her income and help her family stand on their own two feet.
THE BENEFITS
The project will directly impact 36 small scale farmers and indirectly benefit over 100 people
Build social capital in the village by farmers who adopted practices earlier sharing inputs and their skills/knowledge with farmers from this project
Accelerate new technologies and practices that will significantly increase yield
Prevent losses during flooding
Improved quality to meet more profitable market requirements
Farmers will know how to assess and self-produce seeds reducing costs of production
Increase income for families to better meet their needs and pursue goals important to them
HOW WILL THE PROJECT WORK?
Before this project commenced, we identified high performing peanut farmers in the Village of Irruttumadu that we call early adopters who trialled and tested the new practices and technologies.
After sharing their success, the 36 farmers in this project will undertake the training to follow in their footsteps and significantly increase their yield and income.
A very special part about this project is the sharing between the early adopters and the farmers in this project. This project is more cost effective that the initial project with the early adopters because the early adopters, for the subsidies that we provided for their inputs, now share their improved inputs with the farmers from this project – we call this passing the gift!
Not only are inputs shared, but knowledge as well – through mentoring and farmer training.
The estimated yield increase is approximately 50 – 60% and with the success of these 36 farmers more farmers will be sure to follow!
We will be providing training on 7 key innovative practices during their harvest, providing close mentoring, linking with the agricultural extension services and facilitating the pass the gift program so these farmers also receive subsidised inputs required for these new practices.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THE PROJECT IS SUSTAINABLE AFTER WE LEAVE?
The program will support the training of the new techniques and provide intensive mentoring so that in time, farmers understand and have fully adopted these improved practices. Most importantly, facilitation of farmer to farmer training enables a strong culture of support to thrive in the village as farmers begin to understand that as producers they are much stronger in the market place as a collective. With improved skills, farmers will be able to stand on their own two feet without the continued support from our local team.
In the initial harvest inputs are subsidised, to encourage adoption of new technologies, but following that, farmers are independent in supporting themselves to purchase the improved inputs. As part of the technologies shared, farmers will learn how to assess and self-produce some inputs such as seeds.
This program forms part of a 5 year village program in the village of Irruttumadu. For 5 years our local team will be based in the village supporting farmers to learn new techniques and supporting them as they adopt the practices. After 5 years our team exists from the village and the farmers and the village will continue to thrive!
Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal!
HOW DOES THE FUND WORK?
The fund has been designed as a revolving loan fund. This means that once the initial loans are repaid, that money is then given out as new loans to allow more women to start new businesses.
Initially 24 families will receive a loan of Rs 30,000 (approx.. AUD$250) without interest. The project will provide loans for businesses such as tailoring, snack shops, and poultry and goat rearing.
SUSTAINABILITY
The revolving nature of the fund means it is self-sustaining, provided the loans are repaid. Loan repayments are within the capacity of the beneficiaries so they will be less likely to fall behind on a payment. In addition, Palmera will work to monitor the loan repayments and address any difficulties with repayment, if they arise.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Women receiving the loans will build confidence and independence, relying less on aid.
The women can provide for their families, for instance, they can send their children to school.
BACKGROUND
The residents of Kuttiyapulam Village in Northeastern Sri Lanka were resettled into their villages and lack basic facilities. There are limited opportunities for earning an income. As a result, women-headed households are struggling to build a life.
The women in this village wish to do self employment activities such as small business, goat rearing, poultry and tailoring in their homes, as they do not want to go elsewhere for work. They want this revolving loan to earn an income for their families and build a life after years of just getting by.
