The inaugural national gathering of the Smart Farmers Coalition took place on June 4, 2025, at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) in Colombo. The event brought together 100 participants representing 30 cooperative societies engaged in market-aligned food enterprises across Sri Lanka.

This milestone event marked the culmination of four years of dedicated capacity-building efforts under the Smart Farmer project, guided by the SANASA Business Incubation Center (SEFEC). The initiative has focused on cooperative training, business development, market integration, and value chain enhancement for smallholder farmers.

The meeting provided a platform for regional leaders to come together, share experiences, and identify common challenges. Discussions explored opportunities for networking and collaboration, addressed policy-related barriers and enablers, and charted a collective path forward to strengthen cooperative food production. A key aim was to reinforce the role and ownership of smallholder farmers in shaping a sustainable and resilient national food system.

A central agenda item was educating farmer leaders on global conventions related to family farming, climate change adaptation, food system resilience, land degradation, and biodiversity. Participants were briefed on Sri Lanka’s current commitments and progress in these areas, and how farmers can contribute to national strategies. Expert insights were provided by Mr. Leel Randeni, Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment; Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam, Executive Director of the Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement; and Dr. Lionel Weerakoon, Agroecology Consultant at SANASA Campus.

Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya, founder and visionary leader of the SANASA movement, underscored the importance of empowering smallholder farmers to build resilient communities.

Mr. Gnanaratne, Chairman of the Angammana SANASA Cooperative, shared insights from his participation in the Agroecology Certificate Course at SANASA Campus. He emphasized the importance of understanding agroecology—particularly soil science, climate-resilient farming practices, cooperative enterprise models, and biodiversity conservation—as essential knowledge for cooperative food production leaders.

The event showcased the tangible progress achieved in empowering local farming enterprises and enhancing market linkages, reflecting the collective impact of years of hard work, collaboration, and community leadership.

The event was organized under the funding assistance of Farmers For Asia (FA4A) project