From Hardship to Harvest: Dharmadasa’s Story of Resilience and Growth

In the heart of Sri Lanka’s Kurunegala District, a remarkable transformation is unfolding both in the land and in the life of Dharmadasa, a determined commercial farmer. With support from the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP), funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ministry of Irrigation, , and implemented in partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) Dharmadasa has turned his once-struggling farmland into a thriving model of climate-smart agriculture.

Launched in 2018 and concluded in 2024, the CRIWMP aimed to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in Sri Lanka’s dry zone. Over its seven-year journey, the project reached more than 12,935 individuals, providing vital tools, infrastructure, and knowledge to withstand climate variability and extreme weather events.

As part of the initiative’s focus on rehabilitating traditional tank-based cascade systems and promoting sustainable farming practices, Dharmadasa was selected due to his active involvement in commercial agriculture. He received an agricultural package valued at LKR 800,00, which included coconut, chilli, and banana plants, soil buds, protective nets, and a sprinkler system designed to enhance cultivation within his cascade catchment area.

Embracing a strategic and sustainable approach, Dharmadasa planted a diverse range of crops including Thibbatu (wild eggplant), cooking cucumber, pumpkin, chillies, and Scotch Bonnet peppers. By growing crops from different families and maximizing every inch of his land, he naturally reduced the risk of pest infestations, crop failure, and market price volatility.

“I plant different crops to avoid plant illnesses and make use of every bit of land. If one crop fails, I still have others to rely on,” he shared.

This approach has not only allowed him to meet his family’s daily needs, but has also created a steady income. Today, he is already harvesting chillies and peppers provided through the project, and eagerly awaits the rest of his crops to mature.

“I do everything on my own. My wife helps by watering the plants. We don’t hire labourers. We believe that only through hard work can we build a better life,” Dharmadasa said proudly.

Dharmadasa’s flourishing garden now stands as a beacon of resilience and sustainability proof that, with the right support and determination, smallholder farmers can rise above climate challenges, secure their livelihoods, and cultivate a better tomorrow.