A Success Story of EU-funding for Agricultural Sector Modernization in Sri Lanka

Meet Sivaraja, a proud farmer from Settikulam, Vavuniya, who has transformed his life by producing Hybrid Maize seeds in his own field. With support from the European Union-funded Districts of Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, he has not only increased his profit but also contributes to the country's economy by reducing the reliance on imported Hybrid Maize seeds.

Mr. Sokkalingam Sivarajah, also known as Sivaraja, is one of the successful farmers involved in Hybrid Maize seed production. He was trained to produce MI Maize Hybrid 4 seeds and has become a valuable resource for other farmers in the region. His wife, Mrs. Sivarasa Bhagyalakshmi, also shares her enthusiasm for the project, stating that it has been a pleasure to see her husband's progress and their increased income.

The project has equipped farmers like Sivaraja with the necessary skills and resources to cultivate Hybrid Maize seeds, which allows them to produce high-quality yields. The European Union-funded project has provided farmers with seeds, solar-powered irrigation systems, and training. Additionally, it has established a solar-powered drying and processing center with machinery.

Hybrid seed Production

According to Mr. Suyanthani, Cluster Coordinator of Maize seed cultivation in Vavuniya District, over 300 farmers have been trained to cultivate Maize for producing MI Maize Hybrid 4 Seeds on 300 acres. The project aims to train 400 farmers on 400 acres, enabling them to become entrepreneurs rather than traditional farmers.

The farmers have formed a Public Unlisted Company called "Ensured Seeds Economic Development Limited" to sell their products to local and foreign buyers. This concept was introduced by the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, allowing farmers to receive a good income for their products as well as shares in the company. The company is managed by a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee comprising all farmers.

Maize farmers in Vavuniya

Farmers produce their seeds and bring them to Processing Center, where they use solar tunnel dryer and processing machinery such as seed separators   to produces Hybrid seeds. The Project has also established a seed storage facility for storing seeds.

The Agriculture Sector Modernization Project aims to enhance the productivity of Agriculture Sector while uplifting the farmer living standards by training them to become entrepreneurs. The Project provides modern Technology package for farmers, conduct training programs and workshops to share knowledge and awareness, and helps farmers from Northern, North Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces through the “Agriculture Technology Demonstration Parks” model.

Thanks to the project, many rural farmers are now empowered to participate in their cultivation with pride, and women have gained opportunities to support their families by engaging in these activities. Moreover, the project has motivated farmers by emphasizing their crucial role in Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, highlighting the importance of reducing money spent on seed imports.