FAO initiates Integrated Plant Nutrient Management training in six districts

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has initiated the training of 71,000 paddy farmers in Ampara, Badulla, Hambantota, Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Puttalam districts on Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM) using the “Nena wagawa” e-learning platform, said a press release.

It said: FAO has unveiled a learning management system called “Nena wagawa” (Smart Cropping), a website offering e-learning courses on IPNM, primarily for paddy farming. Funded by the European Union, the RiceUP project, implemented by FAO in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, aims to disseminate knowledge on IPNM and promote sustainable and climate-smart farming practices in Sri Lanka.

FAO has initiated the training of 71 000 paddy farmers in Ampara, Badulla, Hambantota, Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Puttalam districts on IPNM using the “Nena wagawa” e-learning platform. FAO’s training partner, Sarvodaya, is mobilizing its staff and volunteers to organize two-hour training sessions for a limited number of participants throughout these districts.

Farmer W M Ganawathi from Badulla said: “Although we are engaged in farming, we lacked knowledge about soil. We never knew about the Leaf Colour Chart. Through this IPNM course, we have learned many new things. I hope IPNM is introduced to other farmers, too.”

“The knowledge gained from the ‘Nena wagawa’ programme is invaluable. As Sarvodaya conducts other agriculture-related programmes with farmers in Sri Lanka, we can share the course content with many communities,” says Ms Ashoka Kusum Dharshani, Badulla District Coordinator of Sarvodaya. She adds that there is positive feedback from the participants in these training programmes.

Volunteer Abhi remarks, “Farmers are not familiar with IPNM. Despite their years of farming experience, this is the first time they are learning about IPNM. The Leaf Colour Charts are particularly popular among the farmers as they are eager to use them in their fields as soon as possible.”

Stories of enthusiasm and commitment to sharing knowledge about IPNM in paddy farming seem contagious. FAO is hopeful, as it is encouraging to see farmers embracing technology and adopting scientific methods in sustainable farming to improve their yields and enhance their harvests while preserving the soil and environment. FAO plans to scale up these efforts in promoting IPNM among 400,000 paddy farmers, as there is great potential to revolutionize paddy farming in Sri Lanka.