Strengthening Social Enterprise Economic Resilience through Development Support: MGrow Greenhouse
A 4-part blog series about the aspirations of early-stage start-ups and their journey with the HackaDev Economic Resilience Coaching Programme, authored by Ms. Kithmini Nissanka and Ms. Michali Martyn of Citra Social Innovation Lab.
The recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka took a heavy toll on the SME sector, once again placing many enterprises that had just begun to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a familiar, vulnerable position. In light of the socio-economic context brought about by the crisis, the HackaDev Economic Resilience Coaching Programme (ERCP) was initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka to offer supportive measures to early-stage start-ups at this critical juncture and equip them with the tools and skills to achieve economic resilience. The programme provides comprehensive development support through mentorship, incubation, and financial assistance for start-ups to effectively respond to challenges, counter the impact felt by the crisis and upend the status quo through transformative adaptation.
Following a selection process, eight enterprises who were selected for the programme thus began their 6-month-long incubation journey. Fast-forward to today, these eight groups, who through hard work and dedication, have come a long way and emerged as successful registered businesses.
This is the story of MGrow and its journey with the HackaDev Economic Resilience Coaching Programme.
Nestled in the quiet town of Oddamawadi in the far east corner of Sri Lanka is a budding greenhouse established and managed by Aroosa, a young visionary who singlehandedly engineered the project to transform her family-owned vegetable plot into an innovative conservatory with advanced technological systems to effectively improve the quality and increase the quantity of produce at the farm.
Hailing from a lineage of traditional farmers who grappled with the tribulations of conventional farming practices, Aroosa used her technical knowledge and skills obtained through her degree in Agri-Technology from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to materialise her visions. Recognizing the potential to mitigate the endemic challenges entrenched in traditional farming, she set her sights on a revolutionary path. Today, MGrow Greenhouse stands resilient against the prevailing environmental adversities by employing contemporary agricultural techniques to elevate both yield and quality.
Receiving assistance from HackaDev ERCP’s incubation process — providing technical mentorship and financial backing — Aroosa translated her knowledge into action, and soon the expanse of her father’s farmlands witnessed the birth of a pilot project: an avant-garde greenhouse. Within the sanctuary of this greenhouse, contemporary agricultural methodologies such as drip irrigation, automated water sprinkling systems and insect repelling nets were installed in the greenhouse. Together, these innovative mechanisms surged the efficiency of cultivation, averting threats such as water scarcity and soil infertility which are common to the region.
Emerging triumphant from the inception phase, MGrow’s maiden cultivation endeavour unfurled with the cultivation of Capsicum and is now expanding its reach to cater to the demand of the local market by diversifying the range of produce. Elated by the success of this initiative, Aroosa casts her gaze forward. She envisions a horizon with opportunities to amplify the greenhouse’s capacity, ushering in a new era of agrarian prosperity. Equipped with an arsenal of modern agricultural mechanisms, she strives to elevate farming practices to unparalleled heights and transcend the trials of the past, within her hometown and across the island.
For more information, please contact: Kithmini Nissanka (shanika.kithmini-nissanka@undp.org)
