Growing the use of real-time digital tools for smarter vegetable farming

The FRESH Initiative, in collaboration with the ClimBeR initiative, is providing Sri Lankan farmers with climate information and agronomic advisories straight to their mobile phones.

By Mohamed Aheeyar, Giriraj Amarnath and NirangaAlahacoon

In recent years, Sri Lanka has experienced the impacts of climate change with recurrent extreme droughts and intense rainfall events. Vegetable farmers in the upcountry areas traditionally rely on predictable seasonal rainfall patterns. However, climate change has disrupted these patterns, leading to erratic precipitation and an increasing number of extreme weather events like droughts and heavy rainfall. These climatic variations pose a significant challenge to vegetable cultivation, making crops susceptible to pests and diseases, potentially reducing productivity, and jeopardizing the quality of the harvests.

The CGIAR Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets(FRESH) is implementing activities in four countries including Sri Lanka, to increase fruit and vegetable intake and improve diet quality, nutrition, and health outcomes. One of the research focuses is on safe and sustainable vegetable production for year-round availability by adopting options for sustainable diversification and intensification. FRESH is promoting the integrated management of vegetable production systems, including good agricultural practices that prioritize resource use efficiency, leading to greater productivity while offering safe food, environmental protection, and improved farmer well-being. The Initiative also addresses key constraintssuch as the lack of awareness and knowledge gaps in regenerative agricultural practices and climate change-related issues.