Productivity of Agri-Food Sector of Sri Lanka: The Story Unseen, Unfolded or Untold

Abstract

The agriculture sector in Sri Lanka has been perceived by a large proportion of politicians, policy makers, scientists, academia, and general public as a sector with "low productivity". Yet, once the contribution of food and related industries are added, the Agri-Food Sector (AFS) is highly productive and vibrant, just as much as in any economy. Therefore, the political leadership should be aware of the contributions made by the AFS and be cautious in interpreting the productivity estimates made by various agencies, especially on the productivity of agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector in Sri Lanka. Further, the size of the AFS of Sri Lankan economy and the contributions of overall AFS and the sub-sectors, i.e., agriculture, food manufacturing and food service, should be taken into account if contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and to employment is to be more accurately perceived. Identification of productivity of different sub-sectors together with the constraints to improve productivity, would help the government of Sri Lanka in developing strategies to make the process of economic development proceed further and faster.

Enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale paddy farmers in sri lanka through computational approaches for inclusive and equitable agriculture

“…The accuracies of each can be viewed in the below table. When comparing this research with previous studies, it is evident that although previous studies [5][6] [13] have identified issues in the fertilizer subsidy program, none of them has proposed an implementation to effectively distribute the subsidy among farmers, taking into account the urgency of their needs. This research addresses this gap and provides a method to conveniently distribute the fertilizer subsidy to farmers, ensuring the timely application of fertilizers to their fields.…”

“…The study recommended a phased-out subsidy scheme, accompanied by infrastructure investments and improved marketing efficiency, for long-term productivity. Additionally, an analysis [13] demonstrated the positive effects of fertilizer use on paddy production in Sri Lanka, underscoring the significance of sustainable fertilizer policies given domestic and international market implications. It emphasized the need to evaluate experimental policies related to land, fertilizer, and inputs over time.…”

“…Farmers receive fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients either for free or at a discounted rate [6]. While the subsidy program has contributed to agricultural growth and food security, concerns regarding leakages, corruption, and unsustainable fertilizer use have prompted the need for reforms [13].…”