As part of its technical advisory services to 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐀), under the 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 (𝐆𝐂𝐅) 𝐊𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, DevPro conducted an assessment of Shared infrastructure across Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala, Puttalam and Anuradhapura districts understanding existing infrastructure types, identifying key gaps, and exploring opportunities to improve how these resources support farmers, enterprises and agricultural value chains.
This was at the centre of our discussions with 𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐀 and the 𝐆𝐂𝐅 𝐊𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 at the 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 yesterday when we presented the 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.
Agricultural communities are increasingly experiencing the impacts of changing rainfall patterns, droughts, floods and rising temperatures. These pressures can affect the entire value chain from access to inputs and production to collection, processing, storage and markets. In this context, shared infrastructure can play a key role in strengthening climate resilience and keeping value chains connected and efficient.
Shared infrastructure includes 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 and 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 facilities that can be accessed by multiple value-chain actors, such as processing and storage facilities, collection centres, machinery, irrigation systems, market spaces, digital platforms and climate information services.
Building climate resilience therefore requires more than supporting individual farmers. It requires systems and infrastructure that enable farmers, producers, MSMEs, communities, government, and other value-chain actors to work together and respond to changing conditions.
Shared infrastructure can help make agricultural value chains greener, more efficient and climate resilient by providing access to facilities and services such as collection centers, processing and storage, machinery, irrigation, markets, and digital platforms. These can help reduce post-harvest losses, improve resource efficiency, strengthen value addition, and market access, and support farmers and enterprises during climate-related challenges. With strong management, maintenance, inclusive access and market linkages, shared infrastructure can contribute to more connected, sustainable, and resilient value chains in the Knuckles region.
Through this work, DevPro continues to contribute to creating agricultural systems that are better equipped to adapt to climate change, create economic opportunities and support resilient communities in the Knuckles region.