Commemorating World Environment Day, SANASA International organized a two-day residential program for young farmers affiliated with community-based organizations working with the APFP-FO4A Smart Farmer Project. The event titled “Young Farmers Summit” was held on 4-5 June 2023 at Sanasa Campus in Kegalle and attracted approximately fifty young farmers, representing farmers’ societies and cooperative societies from various regions of Sri Lanka. Several students from 4 different departments of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya also participated the event.
The event enabled the young farmers to be exposed to a wide range of themes pertaining to sustainable agricultural enterprises. Topics included the identification of emerging global trends and challenges in agriculture, strategies to overcome challenges and issues through farmer cooperatives, advancements in post-harvest technology, and the significance of certification. Notably, discussions revolved around formulating measurable and sustainable plans with proper risk management strategies. The event also enabled youth from different regions to share their innovations, and experiences and to engage with the national youth committee of the SANASA movement.
The event was enriched by the contribution and input of eminent figures such as Professor Udith Jayasinghe, who had been the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of North-west University, Professor Chandi Rajapaksa a well-recognized Soil scientist the Department of Soil Science at Peradeniya University, Dr. P Kirivandeniya, the founder/leader of SANASA movement Mrs. Nirmala De Soysa, Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Standards, and Mr. Saminda Ranatunga, Assistant Director of the Industrial Development Authority and Mr. Sumedha Weerasekera, the programme Manager of SANASA International.
Overall, the “Young Farmers Summit” organized by Sanasa International served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussions on the agricultural sector’s current landscape and future prospects.
The Smart Farmer project, initiated by Sanasa International with the funding support of the Europen Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Developmet (IFAD) through the consortium Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), has already gained a reasonable recognition for its commitment to focus on building resilience of the smallholder farmers. (Article and photos by SANASA)
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