Agriculture Sector Modernisation Project Component 1 (ASMP) has initiated to support financially (grants) ornamental fish breeders and venders who receive Samurdhi relief in the Polonnaruwa district. A cluster of 49 people had withdrawn from their monthly relief since 2022 and has become self-sustained entrepreneurs in the area.
Their monthly earnings have increased by selling their ornamental fish for exports and local markets. This was revealed at a recent inspection visit by the Project Director of the ASMP at the cluster in Polonnaruwa which has become a key point for breeding and trading of ornamental fish for local and export markets.
This is a role model for Samurdhi beneficiaries who receive monthly relief from the Government.
The ASMP is a World Bank funded project under the Ministry of Plantation and started its operations in 2017/2018. The ASMP has provided Rs. 24,493,800 to this cluster project which was rated as a completed cluster project among 1,388 projects. Each cluster member is earning around Rs. 40,000 a month from the business after receiving ASMP grants. This is a result of the expansion of capacities of their breeding/growing tanks and with the application of new technologies on ornamental fish breeding. The project has immensely helped the female communities in the district.
There is another similar cluster maintained by the ASMP for ornamental fish in Polonnaruwa which consists of 35 members and was provided Rs. 20,617,055. These two clusters will be amalgamated to share their resources.
There are many other cluster projects maintained by the ASMP for ornamental fish in Gampaha, Colombo, Kurunegala and Hambantota. There is another cluster in The Eastern region called the Eastern Ornamental Fish cluster.
The ASMP has awarded grants for foliage clusters, spice cluster, shrimp hatchery clusters, dairy farming and coconut based product clusters.