The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a $300,000 fertilizer e-voucher programme to help 3,489 smallholder paddy farmers in Anuradhapura recover production lost to Cyclone Ditwah in time for the upcoming Yala cultivation season.
The beneficiaries include 1,686 women farmers whose fields were partially or fully damaged by the cyclone during the Maha 2025/26 season. Each farmer will receive an electronic voucher to purchase fertilizers from Agrarian Service Centres.
Vouchers are tiered by holding size:
- Up to 0.5 acres: USD 75 (Rs. 23,625)
- Over 0.5 to 1 acre: USD 90 (Rs. 28,350)
The vouchers can be used to purchase Urea, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and Muriate of Potash (MOP).
“Through this fertilizer voucher programme, FAO aims to help farmers quickly return to cultivation while strengthening their production capacity and contributing to local food security,” FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Vimlendra Sharan said. “This also marks the first time FAO in Sri Lanka is implementing an online digital fertilizer voucher programme, expanding our emergency response tools to ensure farmers receive timely and flexible support.”
Each beneficiary will also receive a free booklet on Good Agricultural Practices in paddy cultivation.
Commissioner-General of the Department of Agrarian Development Dhammika Ranatunga said the timing of the support — ahead of the Yala season — would help farmers restore paddy production and protect smallholder livelihoods in Anuradhapura.
The scheme adds to a series of post-Ditwah recovery measures, including the 25,000 MT urea procurement for Yala and the credit relief framework approved by CRIB. Anuradhapura was among the worst-affected paddy-producing districts during Ditwah, with disrupted Maha sowing now feeding through into reduced household-level food security ahead of Yala.
