How NSBM contributes
NSBM contributes to Zero Hunger through student-led community initiatives, research and programmes addressing nutrition and food security. A notable example is the NutriBox Project, conducted by NSBM students in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Homagama, which focused on providing affordable and nutritious food to vulnerable communities. The project involved identifying groups at risk of malnutrition, developing nutritionally appropriate food packages, sourcing local ingredients and distributing NutriBoxes to selected households. NSBM research also includes work on healthy food products, food microbiology, probiotics and food safety, supporting broader efforts towards healthier and more sustainable food systems.
Coconut for Growth: Empowering Families, Securing Futures
NSBM students supporting low-income families through a coconut seedling project, implemented in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 2 — Zero Hunger, and particularly Target 2.3, which aims to double the income of small-scale producers.
The initiative sought to strengthen the livelihoods of low-income families by providing them with coconut seedlings, a long-term, income-generating, and nutritionally valuable crop. The project involved several key activities, including identifying eligible households, purchasing healthy coconut plants, conducting awareness and training sessions on proper planting and maintenance techniques, and distributing the seedlings to selected families.
Students played an active role in organizing the project, coordinating the purchase and distribution process, planting the coconut trees, and committing to monitor their growth over time. Community members, in turn, took responsibility for nurturing the plants to ensure sustainable outcomes.
The project has contributed to boosting family incomes, enhancing food security, and supporting rural economic growth. Beyond its immediate outcomes, Coconut for Growth symbolizes a step toward creating resilient communities by fostering self-reliance and promoting sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to a hunger-free future.