Australia, FAO and Sri Lanka Launch USD 1.4 Million Recovery Drive for Cyclone-Hit Vegetable Farmers

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has launched a AUD 2 million (USD 1.4 million) recovery initiative to restore and transform vegetable production systems in the cyclone-affected districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, with support from the Government of Australia and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The initiative was officially marked by the signing of a grant agreement between Matthew Duckworth, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, and Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The project follows the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in November 2025 and severely disrupted agricultural production systems and livelihoods across the country.

The highland districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, major suppliers of vegetables including beans, carrots, leeks, cabbage, tomato and potato, were among the worst affected. Thousands of smallholder farmers in these areas lost crops, seed stocks and productive assets.

Designed as a 12-month intervention, the initiative aims to restore and strengthen climate-resilient vegetable production systems, while placing strong emphasis on empowering women farmers and supporting persons with disabilities.

More than 2,400 smallholder farmers will directly benefit from improved seed and seedling production systems, access to small machinery, training and strengthened market linkages. Thousands more are expected to benefit indirectly.

The initiative will prioritize the restoration of farmer-led seed systems for beans and potatoes, while supporting the re-establishment of both open-field and protected cultivation systems. It will also support women-led seedling supply nurseries and promote Climate-Smart Good Agricultural Practices (CSGAP) among farmers, alongside small-scale machinery and input support.

A key component of the project is the establishment of six accessible and inclusive nurseries in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla. These nurseries are expected to function as sustainable agri-based enterprises, producing high-quality vegetable seedlings, generating new income opportunities and strengthening local input supply chains.

By combining immediate recovery assistance with long-term resilience measures, the project aims to stabilize vegetable production, improve household food security and nutrition, and reduce reliance on imported seeds.

The project has been designed as both a recovery and climate adaptation intervention, addressing structural vulnerabilities in seed supply, production systems and market linkages. It also seeks to strengthen the capacity of farmers and agricultural extension services to respond to future climate risks.

The initiative aligns with national priorities on food security, climate resilience and inclusive rural development, and will be implemented in close collaboration with national partners, including the Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Department of Agriculture.