The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, convened a meeting titled “Results Presentation of the C-SUCSeS Project and Way Forward” as part of the ongoing initiative, the Consortium for Scaling Up Climate-Smart Agriculture in South Asia (C-SUCSeS).

The C-SUCSeS project aims to promote sustainable and resilient agricultural intensification in South Asia by enhancing the capacity to scale up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices. Since its launch in 2022, the Department of Agriculture has served as the implementing agency for Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka, the project has involved participatory, farmer-led research trials conducted across diverse agro-ecological zones. These were implemented by the Natural Resources Management Centre (NRMC) and the Field Crops Research and Development Institute (FCRDI), in close coordination with the respective Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

Key innovations piloted through the project include solar-powered micro-irrigation systems, protected cultivation for high-value crops, multi-purpose soil conservation bunds and gravity-fed irrigation systems suited to hilly terrains.

Although the results focus on Sri Lanka’s experiences, the insights gained are broadly applicable across South Asia. Countries facing comparable climatic and ecological challenges can benefit from the lessons learned in designing and implementing their own CSA strategies.

The event brought together senior representatives from IFAD, the SAARC Development Fund (SDF), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), National Focal Points (NFPs), and scientists from SAARC member states.