JICA & UNDP to procure 200 MT of Maize Seeds for Maha season

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have partnered to procure a significant portion of maize seed requirements in Sri Lanka, targeting the Maha cultivation season.

Maize is a staple input in the livestock feed industry and maize-based food items such as Thriposha and Samaposha, and the demand for seeds has swelled over recent years. 

Sri Lanka is expected to face over a 60% drop in crop production this Yala cultivation season which will decline farmers' income to half, creating a cascading effect during the next Maha cultivation season growing the current socio-economic crisis to its worse end, the UNDP stated.

However, due to shortages related to the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka, only approximately 50% of the seed requirement is readily available in the country to supplement cultivation in the Maha season.

Accordingly, the agreement was signed today with Yamada Tetsuya, the chief representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office and Malin Herwig, Officer-in-Charge, UNDP in Sri Lanka in the presence of Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera with the participation of wider representatives from the partner organizations. 

Highlighting the role of JICA in contributing towards food security needs, Tetsuya, the chief representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office stated, “Currently, the supply chain of livestock and food production is affected by shortage of the maize seeds, affecting the availability and affordability of some essential food items, and giving rise to nutritional concerns for the population, which we hope to resolve through the JICA’s collaborative assistance with UNDP.”

JICA and UNDP will work with the Ministry of Agriculture to procure and supply approximately 200MT (200,000 KG) of maize seeds to farmer organizations in the dry zone districts of Sri Lanka.