The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a five-year “Sow and Grow” project in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka. Backed by funding of USD 10 million, the initiative aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s Thriposha programme by increasing the production of high-quality local maize and ensuring a steady supply of Thriposha for children under five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Thriposha is a fortified supplementary food that serves as an important nutrition safety net for vulnerable mothers and children in Sri Lanka. Through the Sow and Grow project, efforts will focus on increasing local maize production, improving its quality, and strengthening supply chains to support the sustainable production and distribution of Thriposha across the country.
The project will assist around 7,500 farmers in the districts of Anuradhapura, Monaragala, and Badulla. It aims to improve agricultural productivity, promote climate-smart farming practices, and reduce post-harvest losses. The initiative will also help farmers connect with aggregators and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited, improving their access to markets while ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality maize and reducing reliance on imports.
Through these efforts, the project is expected to improve nutrition outcomes for more than 650,000 children under the age of five and over 330,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women across Sri Lanka. By strengthening the maize value chain and supporting national nutrition programmes, the initiative seeks to address both food security and public health concerns.
The partnership reflects broader efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food systems, support sustainable rural livelihoods, and improve national nutrition outcomes. Implemented by WFP in collaboration with several government ministries, the project builds on KOICA’s long-standing partnership with WFP in Sri Lanka to enhance resilience among farming communities while strengthening national safety nets and promoting long-term food security.
