Thirty-eight representatives from 19 Fairtrade certified Small Producer Organisations (SPOs) across Sri Lanka's tea, coconut, herbs and spices, and fruits and vegetables sectors came together in Negombo on 8 July 2026 for Fairtrade NAPP's three-day residential Producer Training and Consultation Programme. Women made up 30 of the 38 participants, reflecting the strong representation of women producer leaders. The programme combined technical capacity building with dialogue, connecting producers to the global Fairtrade Standards consultation while facilitating learning from national experts and specialists in communication and advocacy.

The timing gave the programme its purpose. Fairtrade Standards are being revised through the Standards Evolution Project (STEP), and farmer organisations wanted their views reflected in that process. At the same time, Sri Lanka is preparing for anticipated El Niño conditions, making this the right moment to plan for the season ahead. The programme was built so that participants could act on both.

A Sri Lankan Voice in Global Standards

The full first day was dedicated to the STEP consultation, and by the end of it, all 19 participating organisations had completed and submitted their responses to Fairtrade International. Each consultation question was explained in Sinhala so that every participant could weigh the proposed changes in their own language before commenting, and facilitators guided the group through the supporting annex documents so that every recommendation submitted was an informed one. Engagement stayed high throughout the day, and the feedback that reached Fairtrade International was detailed and constructive. For the participating organisations, this was the most direct form of ownership: the standards they are certified against will now carry the perspectives of Sri Lankan farmers.

Reading the Season Before It Arrives

With El Niño conditions anticipated, the technical sessions gave participants practical ways to prepare. Mrs Nilanthi Priyadarshanie, Deputy Directress of the Department of Export Agriculture, walked participants through climate adaptation measures, water management, crop protection and resilient farming practices. Dr Caminda Herath, Director of the Coconut Research Institute, shared practical guidance on climate-smart coconut production, integrated pest management and sustainable production systems. Farmer organisations left these sessions with concrete steps they can take before the weather changes, and with a stronger working relationship with two national institutions whose technical support they can continue to draw on.

Turning Audit Findings into Everyday Strength

A dedicated session on Fairtrade Standards requirements examined the non-compliances most commonly identified during certification and surveillance audits, together with practical guidance on corrective actions, documentation, internal control systems and governance. By looking closely at where audits most often raise questions, participants could see how compliance becomes a year-round strength built into everyday routines rather than a task that surfaces at audit time. The session gave management representatives clear, usable direction on continuous compliance improvement for their organisations.

"The training consultation on the Standards Evolution Programme was very informative, engaging and well facilitated. The session provided a clear understanding of the purpose of the standard evaluation process and created an open environment for participants to share their experiences and perspectives. The content was relevant, practical and easy to understand, making it valuable for improving our knowledge and supporting the effective implementation of Fairtrade Standards."

- Team from Wayamba Organic Farmers Association (WOFA), Sri Lanka

Telling Their Own Stories, Raising Their Own Voices

Two sessions focused on how farmer organisations present themselves to the world. The introduction of the new Fairtrade communication guidelines showed participants how to document their Fairtrade Premium projects, strengthen storytelling, capture quality photographs and videos, and apply Fairtrade branding correctly, so that the work of their organisations becomes visible in their own words and images. Alongside this, the consultants leading the ongoing Fairtrade advocacy project facilitated discussions on policy engagement, stakeholder collaboration and strategies for strengthening farmer voices within national and international platforms.

Lessons from a Living Classroom

On the final day, participants visited a multi-crop climate-smart model farm, where Good Agricultural Practices, integrated farming systems, soil and water conservation techniques, crop diversification and innovative climate adaptation practices could be seen working together on real land. Participants identified practices they can replicate within their own organisations. Throughout the three days, farmers also exchanged experiences and successful practices across the four sectors represented, and this exchange between tea, coconut, herbs and spices, and fruit and vegetable organisations became one of the quiet strengths of the programme.

"It was a valuable experience, and I was able to gain a lot of knowledge, new ideas, and meaningful experiences through this programme."

- Pramod Chamuditha, Small Organic Growers Association, Sri Lanka

The Road Ahead

The outcomes of the STEP consultation will be shared with Fairtrade International, and participating organisations will receive updates as the Standards Evolution process moves forward. Advisory support will continue as organisations work through the common certification non-compliances discussed during the training, and the technical recommendations from the Department of Export Agriculture and the Coconut Research Institute will be carried into future climate resilience and Good Agricultural Practices training programmes.

Participating organisations are also encouraged to apply the new Fairtrade communication guidelines to document their Premium-funded projects and to deepen their advocacy engagement through upcoming producer forums and stakeholder consultations. Progress will be followed through advisory visits, future training programmes and certification support activities. Standards evolution and climate preparedness are both long journeys, and this programme showed Sri Lanka’s farmer organisations shaping the direction of each.