A Day Built on What Farmers Actually Need

Fifty-eight coconut smallholder farmers in Malsiripura, Sri Lanka, came away from a training session in April 2026 with a clearer understanding of what Fairtrade certification requires of them, and with tools to make their farm management more efficient.

The farmers, affiliated with Seemasahitha Countrywide Wagakaruwange Samithiya (SCWS), participated in a full-day session organised by Fairtrade NAPP’s Sri Lanka programme team. The training responded to identified gaps in knowledge of Fairtrade standards, environmental practices, and labour rights, areas where stronger understanding directly supports the cooperative’s continued certification and the longer-term resilience of individual farming households. Of the 58 participants, 32 were men and 26 were women, all adults.

From Certification to Crop Health: The Full Picture

The session opened with an introduction to Fairtrade’s core principles, objectives, and certification requirements, including what the Fairtrade Premium is and how it can be invested by the cooperative. Farmers explored how Fairtrade standards apply to their specific situation, covering social premium use, access to better markets, and the compliance steps required to maintain and strengthen certification.

A specialist from the Coconut Cultivation Board contributed a dedicated technical session on coconut productivity improvement. This covered recommended cultivation practices, weed control, and pest management strategies suited to local Sri Lankan conditions. For many smallholder farmers, direct access to this level of technical input is limited, and the session provided practical guidance on improving crop health and increasing yields in ways that are both economically and environmentally sound.

Alongside the learning sessions, grass cutters were distributed to all members of the farmer cluster under the Fairtrade Premium-funded project. Weed management is one of traduce labour-intensive tasks for coconut smallholders, and access to appropriate tools directly reduces the physical and financial burden while supporting better-maintained, more productive farms.

What Farmers Took Home

• Fairtrade principles, obligations, and certification requirements

Farmers explored what Fairtrade membership means in practice, including responsibilities around documentation, compliance readiness, and the rights and obligations that come with certification. Interactive question-and-answer sessions allowed participants to raise specific concerns and receive direct responses from the programme team.

• Environmental sustainability and reduced chemical use

The session covered soil conservation approaches and the importance of reducing reliance on chemical inputs, linking these directly to Fairtrade’s environmental standards. Farmers discussed how these practices can be applied given the specific conditions they face in the Malsiripura region.

• Labour standards and workers’ rights

Farmers received an overview of Fairtrade labour standards, including requirements around worker safety and the rights of those employed in coconut farming operations. This session aimed to build awareness that supports stronger compliance across the cooperative.

• Coconut productivity, cultivation techniques, and pest and weed management

The contribution from the Coconut Cultivation Board gave farmers access to technical knowledge on improving yields and managing common crop health challenges. Practical recommendations specific to Sri Lankan growing conditions made this session directly applicable to participants’ daily work.

In Their Own Words

Monitoring, Mentoring, and the Path Ahead

Fairtrade NAPP’s Sri Lanka programme team will carry out follow-up monitoring visits to assess how farmers are adopting the standards and practices introduced during the session. Where gaps remain, targeted refresher sessions and advisory support will be made available.

A key priority for the coming period is strengthening the Internal Control System (ICS) of SCWS. A well-functioning ICS enables the cooperative to manage its own compliance processes, identify issues early, and maintain the documentation standards that certification requires. Continuous guidance will be provided to support this process.

One of the most significant challenges noted during the session was the varying levels of understanding among farmers, particularly around documentation and environmental practices. Limited resources and entrenched traditional farming methods also present real barriers to adopting recommended approaches more widely. These are not challenges that a single training session can resolve, and sustained engagement, peer learning within the cluster, and regular advisory support will all be essential for progress over time.