Programmes in Sri Lanka

The 2018 – 2022 Country Programming Framework (CPF) is aligned with the national and sectoral priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka, the UN Sustainable Development Framework for 2018-2022 as well as with the strategic objectives of FAO, and takes account of the comparative advantages and capacities of FAO in Sri Lanka.

Climate change, nutrition, policy, capacity development, gender, youth and equity are cross cutting themes that will be pursued in all FAO activities. In particular, this CPF will be responsive to the priorities arising from the Country Gender Assessment carried out in late 2017 and the findings of the assessment will be mainstreamed into the FAO programming in the country.

Increasing the contribution of food systems to food and nutrition security and income generation

Sri Lanka is generally self-sufficient in the staple food (rice) and close to self-sufficient in key animal products such as poultry, eggs and fish. However, the growth rate in the productivity of the agricultural sector is stagnating. The cultivation of rice is becoming less profitable for producers, while the vulnerability of the agriculture ecosystems to climate change and variability and to natural disasters is increasing the risks of failed harvests and household food insecurity.

Sri Lanka has made impressive progress in many human development indicators but lags behind with regard to nutrition. The country has one of the highest wasting rates in the world and this rate increased from 11.7 percent in 2009 to 19.6 percent in 2012 before falling to 15 percent in 2016. Simultaneously, Sri Lanka is experiencing the triple burden malnutrition, i.e. the coexistence of under nutrition and micro-nutrient deficiency combined with rising prevalence of overweight and obesity, including among children.

Considering these challenges and building on the lessons learnt from field-level activities in Sri Lanka, FAO is supporting the Government of Sri Lanka and the private sector through technical advice and capacity development to strengthen food systems, including the diversification of agricultural production and livelihoods, and the promotion of high value crops and value addition in a manner that generates profit for producers. FAO uses a holistic food systems approach to transfer knowledge to improve smallholder productivity and promote intensification in an economic and environmentally sustainable manner. The approach will also encourage safe and sustainable value chains that result in produce being of high quality and safety and marketable on domestic and international markets.

FAO also concentrates on technical assistance for the formulation and implementation of tools, guidelines, policies, etc., to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture, access to nutritious foods for the most vulnerable, and diversification of diets. These activities encompass the sharing of best practices, advocacy, and capacity development to the relevant line ministries and decentralized authorities, and to other stakeholders, such as the private sector.

The environment, natural resources, forests and ecosystems are more sustainably managed taking account of climate change, and increasing resilience of the most vulnerable to shocks, natural disasters and climate variability

With a population expected to grow by 2.4 million people by 2050 and with rising wealth leading to changing consumption patterns for food, water and energy, the sustainable management of the natural resources and fragile ecosystems of Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly challenging.

FAO is building on recent and on-going work in the forestry sector, such as the REDD+ preparation and demonstrations of production of fuelwood-based biomass for energy. Thereby working with the Government of Sri Lanka at central and decentralized level, and with UNDP and others, to build capacity for the effective implementation of the National REDD+ Investment Framework and Action Plan, the Nationally Determined Contributions and other policies. FAO is also continuing to provide technical assistance and capacity development towards improved and inclusive land and water management including irrigation systems, and sustainable fisheries management.

The agricultural sector in Sri Lanka is vulnerable to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, extreme weather events and climate change as witnessed by continuous cycles of drought and floods in the last 10 years. Against this background, FAO will work with other members of the UN Country Team on disaster risk reduction and disaster management to assist the Government of Sri Lanka to prevent, mitigate and prepare for disasters.

Increasing the capacity of concerned stakeholders to undertake policy formulation and to collect, analyse and utilize data and information for evidence based decision making

Establishing the necessary frameworks for identifying, collecting and managing the most relevant data and information related to food and nutrition security, natural resources and climate change, and for ensuring that this information is analysed, disseminated and translated into evidence-based decisions and action has been a challenge for the Government of Sri Lanka. A Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Statistics is intended to contribute to addressing this gap and FAO is committed to support its implementation.

FAO will also strive to increase the capacity of targeted stakeholders to formulate coherent, inclusive and gender-sensitive policies and investment plans and strengthen governance and coordination mechanisms related to food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.