The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a five-year project titled ‘Sow and Grow’ with funding support of USD 10 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, to strengthen the country’s Thriposha nutrition programme.
The initiative aims to boost the production of high-quality locally grown maize and ensure a steady supply of Thriposha, a fortified supplementary food provided to children under five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Under the project, about 7,500 farmers in the districts of Anuradhapura, Monaragala and Badulla will receive support to improve productivity through climate-smart farming practices while reducing post-harvest losses. The programme will also link farmers with aggregators and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited to strengthen supply chains and enhance market access.
The ‘Sow and Grow’ project is expected to improve nutrition for more than 650,000 children under the age of five and over 330,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women across the country.
KOICA Sri Lanka Country Director Lee Yoo Li said the agency was proud to support the initiative, which would strengthen the maize value chain while contributing to the long-standing Thriposha programme that safeguards the nutrition of Sri Lankan mothers and children.
WFP Sri Lanka Representative and Country Director Philip Ward said maize farmers and processors were facing growing challenges ranging from climate shocks to market constraints, making the project particularly timely.
The programme will be implemented by WFP in collaboration with several Sri Lankan ministries, including those responsible for rural development, agriculture, health, trade and finance, with the broader aim of strengthening food systems and supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.
from The Island https://ift.tt/5bxmKq2
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