Earth Net Foundation now for its second year is the lead partner for an FK South to South Exchange Programme with a focus on climate change adaptation for small-scale farmers using sustainable farming techniques and appropriate technology. It is currently in partnership with 4 organizations in 4 countries: the Sri Lanka Nature Forum, the Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Development Association, Laos, the Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), and the Bhutanese Association of Women Entrepreneurs. Funding for this programme and other FK South to South Programmes comes from Fredskorpset of Norway.
The FK programme enables volunteers to work with other partner organizations in a programme helping that organization to develop new skills while the participants also learn from the experience. In our first two years of this programme, exchanges have focused on a few areas including: seed production, seed selection and seed breeding. A diversity of varieties and seed that is adapted to new climatic conditions is one tool the partner recognize as helping to mitigate risk. A second area is on biodiversity development and use, particularly on how to use plant resources for food, medicine and to make natural products for home use. With such knowledge and diversity, the partners see more self-reliance and resilience of their farming communities. The last key area is on agriculture techniques, with a particular interest in techniques that may ensure harvests even in unfavorable climatic conditions.
Aside from these 3 areas, there is much more exchange and learning in the areas of culture, language, and way of life.
