This initiative aims to inspire agricultural development in Sri Lanka by addressing key challenges such as food insecurity and youth unemployment.

The agriculture sector in Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to climate change, pests, and extreme weather, making it less attractive to the younger generation. The lack of modernization and technology integration further discourages youth engagement. While polytunnel farming offers a controlled and efficient way to grow crops year-round—especially in areas affected by unpredictable weather—greater awareness of its practical applications is needed within communities.

This project empowers school children with hands-on knowledge of modern farming techniques, enhances local food production, reduces youth unemployment, and fosters environmental stewardship. By equipping students with essential skills in protected agriculture, the initiative contributes to sustainable agricultural practices and nurtures an entrepreneurial mindset among school children.

This initiative significantly impacts the future of Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector while supporting three key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their related targets:

Our project is committed to ending hunger and ensuring year-round access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. We promote sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting natural resources. By sharing knowledge with the surrounding community, we empower people to achieve long-term food security by improving agricultural productivity and increasing the incomes of small-scale food producers. Additionally, we foster greater investment in agriculture through international cooperation, technology development, and agricultural extension services, driving innovation and sustainability in the sector.
The project ensures that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
The project contributes to achieving sustainable economic growth and higher levels of productivity through technological innovations in agriculture. We support development-oriented policies that encourage productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, and youth employment through education and training.

Our approach

Collaboration with Rural Schools: We prioritize schools in rural areas where agriculture is a primary livelihood. Special preference is given to underprivileged schools, as this initiative not only enhances agricultural education but also creates an income source for the schools.

Infrastructure Setup: Polytunnels with irrigation systems and essential components will be installed in selected schools. To provide students with a fundamental understanding of construction, they will be actively encouraged to participate in land preparation and installation.

Training and Capacity Building: Students and teachers will receive practical training on protected agriculture, covering topics such as crop selection, planting techniques, irrigation management, fertilizer application, pest control, and harvesting. Students will also learn how to manage polytunnels and monitor plant growth under the guidance of trained teachers. Additionally, the program integrates enterprise skills, allowing students to gain business knowledge by selling harvested produce.

Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with local agricultural experts, policymakers, and community members is essential to the project’s success. Effective engagement fosters information exchange, gathers valuable insights, and builds support for better decision-making and improved project outcomes.

Sustainability: The initiative provides an income-generating opportunity for participating schools, ensuring the continued maintenance of polytunnels and vegetable cultivation even after the project is completed. This self-sustaining model embeds polytunnel agriculture as a long-term educational and economic resource for schools.

Objectives

  1. To increase the practical knowledge of school children in polytunnel agriculture
  2. To promote agro-entrepreneurship among school children
  3. To create income opportunity for rural school