Colombo, 24 September 2026
A national workshop on “Climate-Smart Dairy and Livestock Development: Building Resilience, Productivity and Sustainability” was held on 24 September 2026 at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, bringing together key national and provincial stakeholders to discuss the future of Sri Lanka’s dairy and livestock sector in the context of climate change and post-disaster recovery.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Livestock Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation (MoALLI) and the World Bank Group, with support from the Global Methane Reduction Platform for Development (CH4D) under the Climate Support Facility Trust Fund. The initiative promotes approaches that strengthen climate resilience and livelihoods while contributing to the reduction of methane emissions from the livestock sector.
The workshop provided an important platform to consider how Sri Lanka can transition from post-disaster livestock recovery towards productive, sustainable and climate-smart dairy and livestock systems.
Participants reviewed ongoing livestock recovery interventions implemented under the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) and discussed current challenges affecting the sector. Particular attention was given to identifying practical measures that can strengthen the resilience of livestock producers to climate-related risks while improving productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane.
The discussions recognized that climate resilience is closely linked with the long-term sustainability of the livestock sector. Strengthening resilience is important not only for livestock productivity, but also for farmer incomes, food and nutrition security, rural livelihoods, domestic milk and animal-protein supply, and agricultural employment.
Five Priority Areas for Discussion
The workshop discussions focused on five key areas:
1. Animal nutrition and feed security
2. Climate-resilient livestock shelters
3. Climate-resilient animal health systems
4. Climate-smart dairy infrastructure and services
5. Climate-smart breeding and herd recovery
These areas provided a framework for stakeholders to identify existing gaps, discuss practical improvements and consider actions that can support a more resilient livestock sector.
Strengthening Collaboration and Collective Action
A key feature of the workshop was the emphasis on collaboration among national and provincial livestock-sector stakeholders. Through technical presentations, working-group discussions and plenary sessions, participants shared perspectives on current issues and explored opportunities for coordinated action.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of integrating climate considerations into livestock development rather than treating climate resilience as a separate agenda. A resilient livestock sector can contribute simultaneously to improved productivity, stronger rural livelihoods, food security and reduced environmental impacts.
The deliberations are expected to contribute to the identification of priority recommendations and practical action areas for the future development of Sri Lanka’s dairy and livestock sector.
The workshop represents an important step towards strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and supporting the transition towards livestock systems that are more productive, climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable and supportive of rural livelihoods.
The outcomes of the discussions will provide a useful foundation for further efforts to strengthen climate-smart livestock development and enhance the resilience of livestock-dependent communities across Sri Lanka.
A national workshop on “Climate-Smart Dairy and Livestock Development: Building Resilience, Productivity and Sustainability” was held on 24 September 2026 at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, bringing together key national and provincial stakeholders to discuss the future of Sri Lanka’s dairy and livestock sector in the context of climate change and post-disaster recovery.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Livestock Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation (MoALLI) and the World Bank Group, with support from the Global Methane Reduction Platform for Development (CH4D) under the Climate Support Facility Trust Fund. The initiative promotes approaches that strengthen climate resilience and livelihoods while contributing to the reduction of methane emissions from the livestock sector.
The workshop provided an important platform to consider how Sri Lanka can transition from post-disaster livestock recovery towards productive, sustainable and climate-smart dairy and livestock systems.
Participants reviewed ongoing livestock recovery interventions implemented under the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) and discussed current challenges affecting the sector. Particular attention was given to identifying practical measures that can strengthen the resilience of livestock producers to climate-related risks while improving productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane.
The discussions recognized that climate resilience is closely linked with the long-term sustainability of the livestock sector. Strengthening resilience is important not only for livestock productivity, but also for farmer incomes, food and nutrition security, rural livelihoods, domestic milk and animal-protein supply, and agricultural employment.
Five Priority Areas for Discussion
The workshop discussions focused on five key areas:
1. Animal nutrition and feed security
2. Climate-resilient livestock shelters
3. Climate-resilient animal health systems
4. Climate-smart dairy infrastructure and services
5. Climate-smart breeding and herd recovery
These areas provided a framework for stakeholders to identify existing gaps, discuss practical improvements and consider actions that can support a more resilient livestock sector.
Strengthening Collaboration and Collective Action
A key feature of the workshop was the emphasis on collaboration among national and provincial livestock-sector stakeholders. Through technical presentations, working-group discussions and plenary sessions, participants shared perspectives on current issues and explored opportunities for coordinated action.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of integrating climate considerations into livestock development rather than treating climate resilience as a separate agenda. A resilient livestock sector can contribute simultaneously to improved productivity, stronger rural livelihoods, food security and reduced environmental impacts.
The deliberations are expected to contribute to the identification of priority recommendations and practical action areas for the future development of Sri Lanka’s dairy and livestock sector.
The workshop represents an important step towards strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and supporting the transition towards livestock systems that are more productive, climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable and supportive of rural livelihoods.
The outcomes of the discussions will provide a useful foundation for further efforts to strengthen climate-smart livestock development and enhance the resilience of livestock-dependent communities across Sri Lanka.