The spread of COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges. Lockdowns restricted movement, forcing many people to stay home, some without any source of income.
In Sri Lanka, amid this uncertainty, Lasantha Ambakumbura received an unexpected lifeline. A representative from SANASA reached out to him, offering a zero-interest loan through the ARISE-Farmers program, designed to help farmers continue agricultural production during the pandemic.
Lasantha decided to make the most of the opportunity. He used the loan to cultivate a variety of crops, including bananas, turmeric, ginger, and manioc. Months later, his efforts began to bear fruit—literally and figuratively.
“For me, receiving Rs. 30,000 at that time was like receiving Rs. 300,000,” Lasantha recalled. “We were housebound and had no earnings. We only had what we had saved. I invested that money into banana cultivation. I also planted turmeric and ginger. In addition, I planted manioc in different places. I think I earned that amount (loan) only by selling the manioc harvest. I am yet to harvest bananas.”
What began as a small act of support turned into a story of resilience and renewal. Lasantha’s experience shows how timely assistance and a farmer’s determination can turn crisis into opportunity.
The Assuring Resiliency of Family Farmers (ARISE-Farmers) program was first launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to empower farmers’ groups to meet their members’ needs and ensure food security during the crisis. The succeeding phase of the program continues its mission to help family farmers become more resilient and self-reliant. It focuses on strengthening the capacities of farmers’ organizations (FOs) to manage production support for their members while expanding partnerships with governments, private sector actors, and financial institutions. Through this approach, ARISE addresses the persistent financing gap and helps smallholder farmers gain better access to markets.
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