The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a five-year “Sow and Grow” project, supported by USD 10 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the government of Sri Lanka.
The project aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s Thriposha programme by boosting the production of high-quality local maize and ensuring a reliable supply of Thriposha for children under five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Thriposha is a fortified supplementary food and a longstanding nutrition safety net for vulnerable mothers and children in Sri Lanka. Sow and Grow will boost local maize production, improve quality and strengthen supply chains for sustainable provision of Triposha.
The project will support 7,500 farmers, in Anuradhapura, Monaragala and Badulla districts, boosting productivity, promoting climate-smart farming, and cutting post-harvest losses. It will connect farmers with aggregators and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited for better market access and ensure a reliable supply of high-quality maize, helping lower dependence on imports and mitigate climate-related risks.
Sow and Grow is projected to enhance nutrition for more than 650,000 children under five, as well as over 330,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women across the country.
Sow and Grow will be implemented by the World Food Programme in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, including the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security & Cooperative Development, and the Ministry of Finance.
“KOICA is proud to support the Sow & Grow Project, which strengthens the maize value chain while contributing to the long-standing Thriposha programme that safeguards the nutrition of Sri Lankan mothers and children. Through our partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Food Programme, we aim to support both farming communities and the country’s nutrition security,” said Ms. Lee Yoo Li, the Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Sri Lanka Office.
This partnership aims to bolster national efforts to strengthen food systems, achieve better nutrition outcomes and support sustainable rural livelihoods.
“Maize farmers and processors are facing mounting pressures, from climate shocks to market constraints,” said Mr. Philip Ward, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sri Lanka. “That is why ‘Sow and Grow’ is so timely. By reinforcing the food system, we are safeguarding Thriposha as a reliable, locally produced lifeline for mothers and children across Sri Lanka.”
KOICA has been a long-standing partner of WFP in Sri Lanka, supporting resilience-building programmes for farmers. By investing in strengthening national safety nets, WFP and KOICA are helping Sri Lanka build a more resilient food system, one that protects vulnerable communities while advancing long-term food security and sustainable rural livelihoods.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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