Improving rural livelihoods in Sri Lanka

Our program has many facets including improving farming techniques and helping women with no assets start their own small businesses.

Reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides has helped impoverish small-scale producers and has harmed long-term soil fertility. Through Oxfam's Rehabilitation and Development program in the Ampara district of the country, men and women farmers are learning new, organic techniques for vegetable and rice paddy production.

Analysis of the new methods has been extremely encouraging. The organic practices have not only improved bio-diversity but the input costs for paddy production have gone down by 60% with an increase in crop yields of 10%. Vegetable farmers have found their costs reduced by 70% and profits are up by 60%.

`I saved SLR 25000 ($235) by not using chemical fertilizers and pesticides for my half acre chilly cultivation exclaimed Rajakulanthiran, a market gardener.

Women with no assets and little access to land have been formed into women livelihood groups. The goal was to support them with resources, opportunities and information to pursue the economic activities of their choice. 60 groups were formed with membership of 1,050 women in 30 villages. After training in market analysis to identify potentially profitable activities, they received the equivalent of $120 to start their small businesses.