The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in collaboration with Sri Lankan and Dutch partners, has successfully completed its agroforestry pilot project aimed at rehabilitating degraded tea and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. This initiative has demonstrated the potential of agroforestry to enhance sustainable agricultural practices in the country.
Nicky Kruizinga (Project Manager at RVO) presents the developed guideline to Michiel van Erkel (Agricultural Counselor) and Nishan Dissanayake (Agricultural Advisor).
The project focused on implementing agroforestry models to restore degraded tea and coconut plantations. Significant milestones have been achieved, including:
Pilot area at the tea estate, in the picture mix of tea, coffee, and areca nut
The success of this project is attributed to the strong cooperation between Sri Lankan and Dutch experts, plantation owners, managers, and workers. The participatory approach ensured active engagement from both the public and private sectors, leading to agroecological, social, and economic benefits that pave the way for further replication of agroforestry practices in Sri Lanka.
The project was officially concluded with the final Project Advisory Committee meeting, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. The meeting was attended by key Sri Lankan stakeholders, including representatives from the Tea and Coconut Research Institutes.
Additionally, representatives from the Netherlands, including the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the Agricultural Counselor Michiel van Erkel, as well as Nicky Kruizinga (RVO, Project Manager) and Anne Cobben (RVO, Agricultural Advisor), were present. A stakeholder event was also held to facilitate knowledge exchange with other interested plantations.
Both plantations have expressed the ambition to expand agroforestry further within their estates. The partnerships will continue through the establishment of a dedicated Agroforestry Working Group, bringing together all relevant stakeholders under the leadership of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. This working group will drive a structured approach to scaling up agroforestry.
Additionally, the tea plantation is planning a mission to the Netherlands to further strengthen its collaboration with Wageningen University and explore new market opportunities.
For more details about the project, see the article published in March 2024: ' Agroforestry project on tea and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka '.
Below you can download and read the developed Guidelines: Agroforestry on tea and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka.
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