100 Home gardens have been set up in the Division. The products are sold directly to the market or to the processing centre functioning at the NGO
100 families from Aranayake Divisional Secretariat is directly involved in the project
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
NA
Capacity - Building Component
NGO staff is trained on project management, M&E, office management, EIA mechanism, local and global environmental issues and related conventions, business plan developments etc
Planning gef grant
No
Replication of project activities
Project has taken initiatives to expand yam cultivation in nearby villages with the help of other financial assistance
Policy Impact
Project supports to protect and propagate local yam varieties which are comparatively more resistant to climate changes. Thus this will ultimately support the National food security programme.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The value added products will be distributed under one name.The initiative will be established as a small and medium enterprise
Project sustainability
To ensure sustainability NGO has adopted a strong mechanism through women empowerment, improving management capacities of community leaders, establishing revolving fund, seed bank, networking 12 women groups and linked with local government authorities, establishing reasonably good marketing mechanism for products and raw products etc..
The initiative will sustain as it is well recognized by Agriculture Department and local government authorities
Policy Influence
Traditional knowledge on farming practices for yam cultivation adopted and organic fertilizer being used by 180 households. This process encourages the current government policy on usage of organic fertilizer in farming.
Planning non gef grant
Yes
Linkages gef projects
Yes ? Linked with GEF large grant Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition implemented by PGRC of Agriculture Department. CDC has received $ 20,000 to rehabilitate the Yam Conservation site at the CDC Centre, this area will function as a knowledge hub
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
conducted school awareness programe to educate children on environmental issues.The project has produced 2 books containing the traditional knowledge and biodiversity
Gender Focus
more than 90% of the project beneficiaries are women
Project Results
1. Biodiversity of 54 species/varieties of traditional yam and tube are preserved by using in-situ and ex-situ methods.
2. Organic farming (organic fertilizer and traditional practices to combat pests and wild animal attacks) introduced in home gardens. The total extent of the home gardens covered under the project is 36 acres in which bio-diversity have been conserved in 8.5 acres with cultivation of 6-8 rare yam varieties among other plant species. In addition 180 low income families were able to identify climate resilient yam varieties for cultivation in their home gardens
3. Community members (especially women) empowered to enhance their livelihoods . The estimated average monthly income of the 180 low income 80 families reached up to 5000-8000/season
4. Project maintain strong linkages with Agriculture Department, Ministry of Mahavali Development and Environment, Family Rehabilitation Center established after Aranayake land slide disaster etc.
5. 16 value added agro-biodiversity products have been introduced based on indigenous yam varieties. These agro-biodiversity products have been constitute with one innovative product, 10 short shelf life products and five long shelf life products. The products are marketed under one name CDC Eco-Products
