Blending

Regenerative Agriculture

Support farmers by sharing knowledge about new regenerative farming techniques and stimulate them in using their traditional Sri Lankan farming systems to get the best mix. In this way, we blend the traditional Sri Lankan farming systems with new regenerative practices.

Sri Lanka has a rich agricultural history dating back more than 2500 years. For centuries, the island nation’s paddy farming not only provided a means of subsistence but also influenced the country’s economics, culture, and religion. The ancient and near past Sri Lankans’ organic and sustainable farming methods serve as prime examples of how environment and human life are intertwined. Moreover, it proves that humans can coexist peacefully with the natural world and prosper there.

One of the oldest traditional cultivation methods in Sri Lanka is known as chena. This technique involves clearing patches of forests through slashing and burning to cultivate vegetables and grains. While this practice may appear to contribute to deforestation, it is actually more sustainable compared to modern agricultural practices. Chena farmers adopt a rotational approach, moving their farming activities from one piece of land to another, utilizing each plot for a limited duration. This allows for the regeneration of soil and forests over time. When selecting land for chena cultivation, farmers often avoid areas with large trees, as these trees are used to construct their tree houses. They also avoid regions with intensive wildlife as a precautionary measure. Prior to clearing any land, chena farmers employ various traditional methods to keep away any animals in the area, thereby safeguarding wildlife.

Blending

Regenerative Agriculture

Support farmers by sharing knowledge about new regenerative farming techniques and stimulate them in using their traditional Sri Lankan farming systems to get the best mix. In this way, we blend the traditional Sri Lankan farming systems with new regenerative practices.

Sri Lanka has a rich agricultural history dating back more than 2500 years. For centuries, the island nation’s paddy farming not only provided a means of subsistence but also influenced the country’s economics, culture, and religion. The ancient and near past Sri Lankans’ organic and sustainable farming methods serve as prime examples of how environment and human life are intertwined. Moreover, it proves that humans can coexist peacefully with the natural world and prosper there.

One of the oldest traditional cultivation methods in Sri Lanka is known as chena. This technique involves clearing patches of forests through slashing and burning to cultivate vegetables and grains. While this practice may appear to contribute to deforestation, it is actually more sustainable compared to modern agricultural practices. Chena farmers adopt a rotational approach, moving their farming activities from one piece of land to another, utilizing each plot for a limited duration. This allows for the regeneration of soil and forests over time. When selecting land for chena cultivation, farmers often avoid areas with large trees, as these trees are used to construct their tree houses. They also avoid regions with intensive wildlife as a precautionary measure. Prior to clearing any land, chena farmers employ various traditional methods to keep away any animals in the area, thereby safeguarding wildlife.

Re-Generative Agriculture

The new regenerative agriculture practices seem same as what our ancestors used in the local agriculture, but we did not have such sophisticated names. However, the introduction of modern agriculture technics and conventional farming systems followed by the introduction of an open economy policy in 1977 has shifted our agriculture away from environmentally friendly systems and adopted farmers towards the chemical abandoned farming systems.

Therefore, Fibershed Sri Lanka aims to re-establish nature friendly agriculture systems in Sri Lanka, develop the ecosystem and adopting farmers towards the traditional regenerative mix farming systems to protect our nature while improving the farmers lifestyle than ever before.

As a starting point, we attempt to cultivate cotton in Sri Lanka using traditional-regenerative agriculture practices. Cotton farming needs a hot and moist climate, and Sri Lanka has an ideal atmosphere for this. In the 1960s-1970s, Sri Lanka had a thriving economy with more than 60,000 acres of cotton grown and they mainly focused on the export market. Our first pilot project was very success, and we are working towards expanding the cotton cultivation in the upcoming years.

Re-Generative Agriculture

The new regenerative agriculture practices seem same as what our ancestors used in the local agriculture, but we did not have such sophisticated names. However, the introduction of modern agriculture technics and conventional farming systems followed by the introduction of an open economy policy in 1977 has shifted our agriculture away from environmentally friendly systems and adopted farmers towards the chemical abandoned farming systems.

Therefore, Fibershed Sri Lanka aims to re-establish nature friendly agriculture systems in Sri Lanka, develop the ecosystem and adopting farmers towards the traditional regenerative mix farming systems to protect our nature while improving the farmers lifestyle than ever before.

As a starting point, we attempt to cultivate cotton in Sri Lanka using traditional-regenerative agriculture practices. Cotton farming needs a hot and moist climate, and Sri Lanka has an ideal atmosphere for this. In the 1960s-1970s, Sri Lanka had a thriving economy with more than 60,000 acres of cotton grown and they mainly focused on the export market. Our first pilot project was very success, and we are working towards expanding the cotton cultivation in the upcoming years.