COLOMBO
In Sri Lanka, an innovative approach is encouraging agricultural sustainability while uplifting rural communities. The MEI Foundation has embarked on a project titled “From Fields to Feathers” in a rural village in Sri Lanka, wherein they would provide financial support to farmers for crop cultivation. Farmers make use of abandoned land in their locality and cultivate crops like rice, onions, and nuts.
The concept is simple yet profound: donors offer financial assistance for farming ventures, enabling farmers to invest in seeds, equipment, and infrastructure. In return, the harvested crops are divided between the farmer and the donor. This equitable distribution ensures that both parties benefit, fostering a sense of partnership. Some portions purchased by MEI’s donors are even reserved for re-distribution to other impoverished households or orphanages.
This initiative not only fosters economic independence but will also strengthen food security in the region. By empowering farmers in this manner, sustainable income is established, breaking the cycle of poverty and dependency on one-time donations.
The same concept is now being extended to poultry as well. And support is being provided by helping farmers purchase hens and necessary food and shelter to raise them.
The first batch of rice crops that the MEI Foundation donated to is now being harvested in March. The NGO’s General Secretary, Dr. Kifaya Ifthikar, shares that “this initiative, ultimately, empowers farmers through financial support for cultivation and will pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for rural communities in Sri Lanka.”
