28 May 2025, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has granted USD 822,100 (LKR 246 million) through UN-Habitat to support communities in Nuwara Eliya District by promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). This initiative aims to enhance essential services and community well-being by promoting modern agriculture methods through technology, improved practices, and knowledge transfer.

The GAP initiative is implemented by UN-Habitat under the larger USD 5.5 Million, KOICA-funded project Strengthening Socioeconomic Resilience of Communities Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka, in close partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka. Other key agriculture interventions of this project include the establishment of fruit villages, adoption of strawberry varieties, protected cultivation, value chain development, providing access to export markets as well as improving food security of vulnerable households.

On 28 May 2025, a special event to award Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certificates to farmers was held at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat. Certificates were awarded to farmers who demonstrated the potential and commitment to adopt and implement GAP standards, promoting safe and sustainable agricultural practices.

Ms. R.A.D.T.N. Thennakoon, the District Secretary of Nuwara Eliya, senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, District Secretariat, UN-Habitat, Community Based Organizations and community members participated at this event.

The GAP initiative includes two major components: the provision of materials and input and capacity building through knowledge transfer. Under the first component, beneficiaries were selected through an open, competitive process and provided with planting materials, protective structures, tools, equipment and fertilizer for their agricultural activities. The second component focused on capacity building of farmers through customized training for specific activities, especially on GAP. Overall, 12 GAP training programmes were conducted in 12 Agriculture Instructor (AI) ranges. A total of 380 farmers, including 158 female farmers participated in this programme.  The Community Based Organization – Madurapani Prajamula – partnered with UN-Habitat and the Department of Agriculture to implement the programme.

Good Agricultural Practices provide guidelines for sustainable and safe crop production by reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, and improving yields. It ensures food safety, boosts farm efficiency, and meets consumer demands for high-quality produce. GAP also supports sustainable agriculture by reducing pesticide and fertilizer use, improving soil health, and enhancing water management. It contributes to national and global development goals while boosting yields and product quality. Economically, good agricultural practices help farmers to lower their production costs, access export markets, and increase incomes. Socially, it enhances food security, promotes worker safety, and strengthens the agricultural sector.

From September 2022 to December 2025, this KOICA-funded project is supporting local authorities and vulnerable communities affected by Covid-19 to increase resilience and gain access to safely managed water supply, sanitation and waste management systems; and farmers and communities to improve their agricultural production.