Post-Tsunami Agricultural and Fisheries Rehabilitation Programme

Post Tsunami Agricultural and Fisheries Rehabilitation Programme

On four islands severely affected by the tsunami of December 2004, the programme supports the rehabilitation of the livelihoods of fishers whose homes, boats and equipment were destroyed by the disaster. About 150 fishers will receive new boats, and the fishing communities where residents of the four islands were resettled will also benefit. On another 26 islands, the IFAD-funded programme will support the delivery of services to poor farming households in agricultural communities.

The overall goal is to help restore agriculture’s share in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to pre-tsunami levels. The objectives are to contribute to the return to a stable, long-term growth trend in the economy, and to reduce the fishery sector’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The programme is helping to re-establish fishing operations and increase fishers’ incomes by restoring their livelihoods. For farmers, the programme works to restore crop production and rebuild their livelihoods, as well as to improve nutrition, contribute to greater food security and reduce poverty by increasing household income.

IFAD funds help finance new fishing vessels, training and establishment of fish markets and cold-storage facilities. The activities will lead to the diversification of the sector in line with the government’s development plans and contribute to the sustainability of fisheries resources. The programme distributes farm inputs, tools and equipment to farmers and it takes an integrated approach to soil rehabilitation, crop production and water management techniques. Training is an important feature of activities, all of which are participatory and community-driven.

Source: IFAD