Crowd-funding: Empowering Women Farmers in Deniyaya Sri Lanka
through Sustainable Organic Farming Education
Help us reach our goals
Story by Jo Dean, member of Permaculture Tasmania
Women farmers in Deniyaya, Sri Lanka are leading the transition toward healthier and more sustainable farming practices. Through MILKCOOP, this project will provide practical organic farming education, fertilizer-making training, integrated pest and disease management training, printed learning resources, and access to regional workshops for rural women subsistence farmers. Your support will help strengthen food security, women’s leadership, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable farming communities.
Project Overview
MILKCOOP Society is a community-led NGO supporting over 2,000 members in rural Southern Sri Lanka, with 85% of members being women engaged in farming and estate labour. The organisation works to strengthen sustainable livelihoods, food security, women’s empowerment, and climate resilience through grassroots education and community action. (milkcoopsociety.org)
This campaign seeks to raise funds to expand practical organic farming education for women farmers in Deniyaya. Many rural women face barriers to accessing agricultural training, sustainable farming tools, and educational resources that would help improve food security, soil health, and long-term economic resilience.
Funds raised through this campaign will support:
- Strengthening peer learning networks among rural women farmers
- Community workshops on sustainable and organic farming practices
- Training on how to access, produce and use low-cost organic fertilizers using locally available materials
- Printed educational guides and learning materials in local languages
- Travel support for women farmers to attend regional agricultural workshops and knowledge-sharing events.
The project focuses on practical, local solutions that reduce dependence on expensive chemical inputs while supporting healthier ecosystems, human health and stronger community food systems. Education and gradual skills development are essential for successful transitions toward sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka.
Through this campaign, women farmers will gain knowledge, confidence, and resources to become leaders in sustainable agriculture within their communities, creating long-term social and environmental impact.
How will your donation help:
- $5 (a cup of coffee in Oz!) prints educational materials for training sessions in the village
- $25 supports a cluster of women farm groups to attend a local workshop
- $50 funds the demonstration of new local organic additives for groups
- $100 supports a full community training session at a regional centre
As a donor you will be regularly updated via email and social media of the impact of your donation towards:
- stronger food security to help feed families nutritious food
- healthier soils for long-term sustainability
- women’s economic empowerment through sharing of excess
- climate resilience
- community-led knowledge sharing
- women farmers bringing positive action, increasing biodiversity on their farms
- workshop activities such as home gardens building community resilience, composting activities and community gatherings supporting local solutions in the region.
