Agriculture, though deeply rooted in Sri Lanka’s history and culture, has gradually drifted from the center of our national development agenda. Once the pride of kings and the livelihood of millions, farming today is often viewed as outdated, low-income, and risky. Over recent decades, both public and private investment in agriculture has stagnated, and many young people shy away from the sector, seeking opportunities elsewhere. Yet this perception—while understandable—is shortsighted and dangerous. Agriculture is not just about growing food; it is about economic security, rural development, climate resilience, and national stability. If Sri Lanka fails to invest meaningfully in agriculture and food systems now, the consequences will be dire—for our economy, our environment, and our people.
A Nation Vulnerable Without Food Sovereignty
Sri Lanka imports a significant portion of its food—lentils, onions, wheat, milk powder, and even rice during certain seasons. In 2022, amid foreign exchange shortages, the country faced widespread food inflation, empty supermarket shelves, and a renewed awareness of how fragile our food system really is.
Food security cannot be left to chance or international markets. A sovereign nation must be able to feed itself. Investing in agriculture—both at the smallholder and commercial levels—is essential to reducing dependency, easing import bills, and strengthening national resilience.
Why Many Are Reluctant to Invest
The lack of investment in agriculture is partly due to perceptions that returns are low and risks are high. Young graduates prefer careers in IT, business, or overseas jobs, while private investors are more inclined toward tourism, finance, or real estate.
But these assumptions ignore the vast potential within agriculture—especially when paired with innovation. Across the globe, agriculture is being transformed through agri-tech, sustainable practices, and export diversification. Sri Lanka must follow suit or risk falling behind.
The Case for Renewed Investment
- Revitalizing the Rural Economy
About a quarter of Sri Lanka’s population depends on agriculture. Yet most are trapped in low-productivity, small-scale farming. With investments in irrigation, training, technology, and market access, these farmers can become viable entrepreneurs. Rural youth can be trained in modern agribusiness, logistics, climate-smart farming, and agro-processing—opening new avenues for jobs and innovation. - Building Climate Resilience
Sri Lanka is increasingly exposed to extreme weather—droughts, floods, and shifting monsoon patterns. Investing in climate-resilient agriculture, including drought-tolerant crops, efficient water systems, and regenerative land management, can help communities adapt while protecting natural ecosystems. - Boosting Export Potential
Ceylon tea, cinnamon, pepper, coconut products, and tropical fruits enjoy strong global demand. With proper branding, certification, and investment in value-added production, Sri Lanka can strengthen its position in export markets. Supporting spice clusters, organic certification, and post-harvest processing hubs are key steps in that direction. - Reducing Food Waste and Enhancing Nutrition
An estimated 30% of food produced in Sri Lanka is lost post-harvest due to poor storage, packaging, and logistics. This can be addressed through investments in cold chains, training, and supply chain management. Simultaneously, promoting awareness of local, seasonal foods can improve national nutrition and support local producers.
What Policymakers Must Do
For agriculture to thrive, the government must create a policy and financial ecosystem that enables innovation and reduces risk:
- Provide affordable credit, crop insurance, and land access to smallholders and young entrepreneurs.
- Modernize extension services and promote public-private partnerships in infrastructure.
- Incentivize value-added production and regional branding, such as Geographical Indication (GI) tags for key products.
- Expand agriculture education in universities and vocational training centers, linking it to ICT, business, and sustainability.
The agricultural sector needs strategic support—not just subsidies or temporary price controls. It requires vision, consistency, and commitment.
What Universities and Institutions Can Do
Agriculture in the 21st century is no longer confined to the farm—it is a knowledge-driven, technology-integrated, and innovation-led sector. In Sri Lanka, universities, research institutions, vocational training centers, and development agencies must play a central role in reshaping how agriculture is taught, practiced, and promoted.
Universities should take the lead in:
- Integrating multidisciplinary training: Curricula must bring together agriculture, economics, engineering, ICT, environmental science, and business to prepare graduates who can approach farming as a complete value chain—from production to processing to marketing.
- Creating innovation ecosystems: Through agri-innovation labs, startup incubators, and entrepreneurship hubs, universities can support student-led ideas and prototypes in areas such as precision farming, value-added food products, smart irrigation, and agri-fintech.
- Promoting field-based learning: Partnering with local farms, cooperatives, and rural communities for hands-on projects and community-based research allows students to identify real-world problems and develop practical solutions in areas such as soil health, water use, and post-harvest technology.
- Facilitating university–industry linkages: Institutions should build partnerships with private agribusinesses, exporters, food processors, and NGOs to ensure students have pathways into employment and entrepreneurship.
- Supporting policy research and advocacy: Research centers within universities can generate evidence-based policy insights on land use, agri-trade, subsidies, food security, and sustainability, influencing government and public discourse.
Technical and vocational institutions also have a critical role in:
- Offering short-term, skill-based certifications in organic farming, greenhouse cultivation, food safety, and agri-tech tools like drones or sensors.
- Training youth, women, and rural workers to operate as agribusiness professionals, logistics coordinators, food technicians, or input suppliers.
Likewise, national institutions such as the Department of Agriculture, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), and the Export Development Board (EDB) should collaborate with universities to align training and research with national needs and global trends.
By working together, these institutions can foster a generation of youth who do not merely inherit agriculture—but reinvent it as a vibrant, competitive, and sustainable sector.
Food and Fiber Conservation: A National Responsibility
Agriculture is not only the foundation of food security—it is also the source of natural fibers that sustain rural industries, support exports, and offer environmentally sustainable alternatives to plastic and synthetic materials. In Sri Lanka, traditional natural fibers such as coir and palmyrah are integral to both the economy and the country’s cultural heritage.
Investing in eco-friendly fiber production—through upgraded technologies, better market access, and export facilitation—can create green jobs, especially for women and rural artisans. Handloom weaving, coir-based products, and banana fiber crafts are not just heritage industries; they are part of a growing global demand for sustainable and biodegradable materials. These industries, if nurtured properly, can offer rural income diversification while helping Sri Lanka meet environmental goals such as reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions.
Government and private sector collaboration is needed to modernize fiber value chains, ensure quality standards, and promote Sri Lankan eco-fibers in global markets under a strong national brand.
At the same time, food conservation must become a national movement. It is estimated that a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s food is lost or wasted—either during harvest and transportation, or at retail and household levels. This is not just an economic loss, but a moral and environmental concern.
Reducing food waste requires a multi-pronged approach:
- Education campaigns in schools and communities to instill respect for food, water, and labor.
- Investments in storage, packaging, and cold chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.
- Strengthening farm-to-market logistics to prevent spoilage in fruits, vegetables, fish, and dairy.
- Promoting community-level composting and linking surplus food to food banks or donation programs.
- Encouraging consumption of seasonal, local produce to reduce waste associated with long-distance transportation and storage.
Urban households and restaurants also have a role to play—by planning meals more efficiently, supporting local producers, and avoiding overconsumption.
In the long run, food and fiber conservation efforts align directly with national goals related to sustainability, climate action, and circular economy development. They also reinforce a cultural value long held in Sri Lanka: the ethic of “not wasting what nature provides.”
A Future We Must Cultivate
The future of Sri Lanka depends not only on highways, tourism, or IT parks—but on what we grow, how we grow it, and who benefits from it. A strong agricultural base is the foundation of national self-reliance, social harmony, and sustainable development.
To our policymakers: bold reforms are needed to unlock agriculture’s full potential.
To our youth: your ideas and energy can bring new life to a time-tested sector.
Let us invest in the soil beneath our feet—and reap the harvest of food security, dignity, and shared prosperity for generations to come.
Sources
- World Bank (2022). Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) – Sri Lanka. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=LK
- Statista (2023). Sri Lanka: Distribution of employment by economic sector. https://www.statista.com/statistics/728543/employment-by-economic-sector-in-sri-lanka
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2023). Annual Report – Agriculture Sector Overview.
- FAO (2021). Food Loss and Waste in Sri Lanka: Challenges and Interventions.
