Sowing Seeds of Recovery

A 5-acre plot of land in the Sri Lankan village of Ahungalla represents deep sentimental value for Manoj Priyankara De Zoysa. This is where his family felt the effects of the tsunami more than one year ago, when, according to Manoj, "life simply stopped."

Determined to become self-sufficient after the tsunami destroyed his plot of land, Manoj Priyankara De Zoysa, second from right, joined a CRS-supported, self-help group with 20 other farmers in his Sri Lankan village. Photo by CRS Staff

At the time, Manoj lived on what he could harvest from his plot of land, one that he shares with five other families. Cultivating green vegetables, Manoj used to make a decent living for his wife and two daughters by selling the healthy produce in local markets. It was a stable life that was thoroughly uprooted by the 5-foot floodwaters from the tsunami, which destroyed his harvested crops and the equipment used to cultivate them.

Manoj was among many farmers who were dependent on this land, and determined to become self-sufficient again. CRS' partner, Caritas Galle, brought Manoj together with other farmers to form a self-help group that would be a forum for mutual support, while strengthening their earning options and financial savings. Manoj and 20 other farmers established the Ahungalla Leafy Vegetable Group. Together, they opened a joint savings account that allowed them to acquire 10 motors and water pumps so they could drain the floodwaters and get back to work.

Manoj and fellow members of the Ahungalla Leafy Vegetable Group have yet to earn as much income as before the tsunami, but they have been able to reclaim about 75 percent of their fields for vegetable cultivation.

In addition to fruitful progress, another aspect of Manoj's life developed unexpectedly from the activities of the group — his social standing. As a farmer, Manoj had little social recognition before the tsunami. However, the progress of the Ahungalla Leafy Vegetable Group earned the attention and respect of their community — including several local leaders, Buddhist priests, government representatives and agricultural officers.

"Some aid organizations simply gave financial assistance to families after the tsunami," said Manoj, "but Caritas has improved the quality of help by forming groups, encouraging savings and increasing organizational capacity.

"Working as a group has fostered a sense of team spirit among the members; we have learned to save. Two of our group members have attended bookkeeping training and we intend to start lending among the group members once our savings have accumulated. We will use the internal loans to buy fertilizer for our crops and for our children's education," Manoj explained.

The plot of land is lush and growing, and continues to provide for those who so carefully cultivate it, a tangible tribute to what was lost — and restored.

Caritas Galle and CRS work together to help tsunami-affected farm families by forming self-help groups, establishing joint savings accounts, and replacing agriculture equipment damaged or destroyed by the tsunami.