US explores enhanced support in Sri Lanka's Agricultural sector

Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Alexis Taylor, engaged in high-level discussions with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other senior government officials during her visit to Sri Lanka on Friday (26). Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, Under Secretary Taylor's visit aimed to explore avenues for bolstering USDA support for Sri Lanka's agricultural sector.

A statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo underscored the enduring commitment of the American people to foster agricultural development and economic growth in Sri Lanka. The discussions centered on enhancing food security, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and building resilience against climate-related challenges.

Highlighting Sri Lanka's pivotal role as a priority country in the 2024 Food for Progress initiative, Under Secretary Taylor reaffirmed the USDA's dedication to advancing food security and climate resilience through environmentally friendly agricultural practices and strengthened market linkages.

Central to the discussions was the ongoing USD 27.5 million Market-Oriented Dairy Project, which has made significant strides in improving milk productivity for over 15,000 dairy farmers across Sri Lanka. Many farmers have reported a doubling of production, underscoring the project's efficacy in enhancing agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Moreover, the USDA's dairy project incorporates comprehensive training programs aimed at enhancing climate adaptability among dairy farmers by optimizing cattle herding techniques and feed consumption strategies to reduce energy consumption.

Since 2018, the USDA's McGovern-Dole project, implemented in partnership with Save the Children and the Ministry of Education, has been instrumental in providing daily meals to nearly 100,000 primary schoolchildren across Sri Lanka. Building on this success, the USDA has embarked on a new five-year, $32.5 million project expansion aimed at further augmenting school meal provisions in eight districts, including Badulla, Colombo, Kilinochchi, Monaragala, Mullaitivu, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, and Trincomalee. The expanded project seeks to extend meal assistance to close to 200,000 students enrolled in Sri Lanka's national school meal program, thereby fostering educational attainment and improving nutritional outcomes among the country's youth.

Under Secretary Taylor's visit signifies a deepening of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka in addressing critical agricultural challenges and advancing shared goals of food security and sustainable development.