Women practices SLM through Vanilla cultivation
Type: Approaches
Creation: 2019-07-01 18:52 Updated: 2019-08-07 11:35
Compilers: Bandara Rotawewa
Reviewers: Ursula Gaemperli
Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Region/ State/ Province: Central
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Doluwa
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Approach
Short description of the Approach
Women in Central Highlands of Sri Lanka practice sustainable land management through vanilla cultivation and earn extra income for their families
Detailed description of the Approach
The average land size of home gardens in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is about 0.25 ac – 0.5 acre. Fruits and spice trees randomly exist in these land plots. The top soil is always disturbed due to daily human activities. Apart from run-off water from upper lands, roof top rainwater flows in all directions causing heavy soil erosion in the home gardens. The home gardens are the least attended land plots in terms of conservation.
Vanilla SLM model is an economically attractive opportunity for women in potential growing areas where ideal environmental conditions are existing. The objectives of the approach are to reduce soil erosion in the home gardens due to daily human activities and introduce a cash crop with higher economic benefit; in general, to promote awareness for sustainable land management (SLM) among the community.
The strategy is to motivate landowners towards SLM: mainly through income generation. Women groups were considered and selected as most suitable target group for the approach. Income generation through this approach help them to improve their social and financial status.
The methods of the approach were following: The women groups were accompanied to well managed vanilla cultivation (exposure visit) to explain and show them about the financial benefits of vanilla plantations. Further, importance of SLM Techniques of Vanilla cultivation were discussed and demonstrated. Next step is practical training on individual farm planning, selection and implementation of SLM techniques according to the farm plan and finally, the maintenance phase of the vanilla plantation starts. The extension officers of the Department of Agriculture support the whole implementation process in each home garden. The project 'Rehabilitation of Degraded Agricultural Lands in Kandy, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya Districts in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (GEF Project ID: 5677)' supports the overall coordination and as well directly, the women group with planting materials. Technical support on SLM and the cultivation is provided by the Department of Export Agriculture and and coordination and faciltiation of trainings by the Agrarian Services Center of the area. The female farmers have formed their own Vanilla Growers Association and they organize their own training programs on negociation skills and marketing arrangements. Private vanilla processors and marketers are linked with the women group. This means, the field coordinator of the Vanilla processing and exporting company trains the farmers on quality vanilla production, assures the market linkage that keeps farmers interest in SLM and vanilla cultivation at high level, and he concludes sales contracts with the farmers.
Photos of the Approach
- 📍 Doluwa
- 🗓 2018-07-11
- 📷 Bandara Rotawewa
- 📍 Doluwa
- 📷 Bandara Rotawewa
- 📍 Doluwa
- 📷 Bandara Rotawewa
- 📍 Doluwa
- 📷 Bandara Rotawewa
- 📍 Doluwa
- 🗓 2018-12-12
- 📷 Gamini Warushamana
- 📍 Doluwa
- 📷 Bandara Rotawewa