With the help of Caritas , Issatheen from the Mannar district of Sri Lanka has finally fulfilled her dream of organic farming.

Selling home-grown vegetables has enabled Issatheen to buy more agricultural land, and he is now focusing on poultry farming to further increase his income.

Before retirement, Issatheen was a government employee. His interest in gardening brought him into contact with Caritas Sri Lanka in 2018 when they started the food security program in Mannar. The purpose was to reduce poverty in the area and contribute to more climate-adapted agriculture.

- I was surprised by the content of the program, which is about much more than food production. For example, we learned about Azolla production, as a source of nitrogen for plants, nutritious feed for cattle and chickens, animal husbandry and climate adaptation techniques for severe drought and flooding. The knowledge not only benefits me, but is also useful for the local community in terms of securing crops and income in the poor population," says the committed retiree.

Issatheen, participant in the caritas food security program

Learned a lot of new things

Caritas Mannar also provides training and practical demonstrations on how to produce organic compost with locally available raw materials, different pesticide preparation methods, preparation of organic growth stimulants, etc. The concrete help, which consists of quality packages of vegetable seeds, vegetable seedlings, growing bags, gardening tools and home equipment, has meant that most families in Issatheen's village are now engaged in vegetable production in their own gardens.

- We are self-sufficient in fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and eggs from our own production. What we don't eat ourselves, we sell to others in the local community. This generates a good income, some of which we set aside for savings.

Issatheen, participant in the caritas food security program

During the pandemic, Caritas Manners has provided training via zoom to participants in the program.

- It has made us more digital. For example, we use digital weather forecast services and find information about daily market prices for vegetables online.

Issatheen, participant in the caritas food security program