The Challenge
In Sri Lanka, many people may have access to small plots of land – often just one to two acres – that hold untapped potential. If other crops like coconut seedlings were to be planted, these plots could potentially be transformed into productive home gardens, offering a valuable source of income.
Our Approach
To capture the potential of these home garden spaces, we work with local partners to distribute coconut seedlings to these households. Home gardeners receive around five coconut seedlings per household. These coconut seedlings tend to live for a longtime alongside other crops with relatively low maintenance, providing a consistent source of income for farmers.
Home gardeners are also trained on practices to nurture these seedlings, with trainings aiming to educate on regenerative agriculture principles including organic fertilizing, water and soil conservation techniques, intercropping to diversify the land, and more. Unlike larger estates, these smaller gardens often require minimal oversight, with just one person able to manage the gardens and implement learnings from farmer training.
Home gardens play a key role in helping to reach and educate more coconut farmers across various regions of Sri Lanka. Once up and running, home gardeners can use coconuts for their household consumption or sell any surplus coconuts alongside other crops to local markets, creating an additional stream of income for themselves.
The Results
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75,000+
seedlings distributed to home gardeners
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15,500+
home gardeners trained in regenerative agriculture practices
