Given the significant role played by agriculture in the country’s economy, Sri Lanka cannot progress or thrive without embracing new technologies in the agricultural sector, particularly when developing countries are increasingly embracing such technology to reap better yields.
In the pursuit of advancing agricultural practices in Sri Lanka, the integration of modern know-how and technological advancements holds great promise.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Agriculture Director of Agriculture Technology Anura Wijetunga explained how the ministry was working to initiate and implement technology in agriculture.
Wijetunga stated that two main arrangements existed within the Ministry of Agriculture.
Firstly, the Department of Agriculture under the Central Government, along with provincial departments of agriculture, together operates the Agriculture Extension Division. Through this division, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, introduces new agricultural technologies to farmers, customising them to suit local needs.
Secondly, there is the Department of Agrarian Development, which focuses on providing infrastructure support rather than bearing the full cost. “For example, in seed production programmes aimed at developing high-yielding varieties, the Agrarian Development Department supplies materials to farmers while the Department of Agriculture manages the technical aspects,” he noted.
In addition to these efforts, Wijetunga outlined the projects supported by the World Bank and the National Reserve Department: “The World Bank projects aim to modernise the agricultural sector by introducing advanced technologies for crop and vegetable cultivation. For instance, we are implementing innovative techniques like double-row planting for banana cultivation, enabling us to export apple bananas to the Middle East. This initiative began in Hambantota and is set to expand nationwide, with the first harvest expected to be exported by the end of this month.”
Speaking further about the agricultural processes infused with technology, he said: “Starting from the bottom, we focus on enhancing land preparation using new technologies and providing fertiliser recommendations based on soil test reports. We also produce planting materials using small suckers for banana cultivation.
“We implement high-density double-row practices for planting and use technologies and integrated management approaches to control best practices with minimal chemical application. Additionally, we introduce post-harvest technologies such as multiple bunch tagging and bagging techniques. These are just a few examples of the many technologies we utilise in agriculture.”
High cost of implementation
Wijetunga also shed light on challenges faced when infusing technology into agricultural practices in Sri Lanka: “When we introduce modern technology, its value is higher in comparison to traditional practices. This means that the cost of implementation is also higher. Fortunately, we have a project under the World Bank that has been approved. Through this project, we can implement these technologies at field level.”
However, to support this initiative, Government policies needed to change, Wijetunga noted, while observing that, at present, banks typically provided loans to traditional farmers although they needed a different approach for technology adoption. He said that several policy changes were necessary to facilitate the implementation of these technologies, while they were also working on changing attitudes within the department to support this effort.
Wijetunga revealed that farmers were eager to adopt new technologies to increase yields of their small plots of land, although they faced challenges in implementing these technologies due to limited resources and support. “This struggle prevents them from accessing the advanced technologies needed for their fields,” he noted.
Initiatives from Min. of Technology
Meanwhile, a source from the Ministry of Technology told The Sunday Morning that the ministry played an important role through strategic initiatives focused on modernising Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector.
“The ministry collaborates with research institutions like the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), universities, and private sector partners to foster the development of cutting-edge agricultural technologies tailored to the Sri Lankan context. It delivers training programmes, workshops, and other initiatives aimed at educating farmers, agricultural extension officers, and agribusinesses on the benefits and practical implementation of agricultural technologies,” the source said.
The source listed the modern know-how and technological advancements to be used to develop agricultural practices in Sri Lanka as follows:
- Precision agriculture: technologies like sensors, drones, and Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping enable farmers to collect real-time data on soil conditions, crop health, and weather patterns. This data-driven approach allows for optimal resource use (water, fertiliser, etc.), targeted pest management, and more informed decision-making.
- Smart irrigation: Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation systems can automate watering according to crop needs and weather forecasts, reducing water wastage and improving crop yields.
- Climate-smart agriculture: climate modelling and predictive analytics can help farmers anticipate weather patterns, select drought-resistant crops, and implement adaptive strategies to mitigate climate change risks.
- Agricultural e-commerce: online platforms connect farmers directly with buyers, improving market access and price transparency, and reducing the role of intermediaries.
- Blockchain traceability: blockchain-based systems enhance supply chain transparency, allowing consumers to trace the origin of their food, ensuring quality and combating fraud.
In addition, the source said that the Ministry of Technology was promoting the adoption of advanced technologies through awareness campaigns, pilot projects, partnerships, and knowledge hubs.
The source also cited a collaboration with a private sector agri-tech company to develop a mobile app that delivered personalised crop management advice, weather forecasts, and market information to farmers, which had resulted in increased yields and reduced input costs for participating farmers.
In addition, the ministry has partnered with a research institute to pilot a drone-based crop monitoring system for early detection of pests and diseases, with the initiative improving pest management efficacy and reducing crop losses.
According to the source, the Government offers tax deductions and exemptions for companies investing in agricultural technology research and development. In addition, several programmes provide grants and subsidies to farmers for the adoption of specific agricultural technologies, such as smart irrigation systems or solar-powered water pumps.
“Moreover, the Ministry of Technology, in collaboration with the private sector, is developing a dedicated AgTech Innovation Fund to support startups and entrepreneurs working on innovative solutions,” the source added.
Crucial across all sectors
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, University of Peradeniya Department of Economics and Statistics Senior Professor in Economics J.M. Ananda Jayawickrama highlighted that technology was crucial not only in agriculture but across all sectors.
“Advancements in technology lead to higher productivity. By implementing new machines and technologies, we can improve productivity in terms of quality and quantity, using the same amount of labour. Technology also helps reduce production costs, making it essential in all sectors, including agriculture and services,” he said.
Prof. Jayawickrama stated that in agriculture, the key was to integrate traditional practices with new technologies. For example, using new seed varieties and innovative cultivation methods could boost productivity, he pointed out, while reducing the reliance on labour in agriculture could benefit farmers. However, this shift required finding alternative employment opportunities for displaced workers, he continued.
Speaking about modernising agriculture, he said that it involved incorporating technology into various aspects like paddy fields, vegetable and fruit cultivation, animal husbandry, and livestock farming. “With new technology, we can create innovative products tailored to market demands, rather than simply selling raw produce. For instance, by processing mangoes into drinks or other products, we can add more value,” he noted.
Challenges in adopting advanced tech
The Ministry of Agriculture focused its efforts on promoting pesticides, conducting studies on cultivation, and supporting small-scale farmers, Prof. Jayawickrama noted.
“However, we face challenges in adopting advanced technologies. During harvest season, we use large machines, but our farmers typically work on small plots of land, often less than one acre. This means that using large machines becomes costly and inefficient due to high transportation costs between small plots,” he pointed out.
In contrast, countries like the US and European nations benefited from large-scale cultivation, allowing them to easily apply advanced technologies with lower transaction costs, he noted.
In Sri Lanka, agriculture served as a subsistence economic activity, aimed at resolving land and unemployment issues through small-scale farming, Prof. Jayawickrama continued, while observing that, unfortunately, this limited the production scale and hindered technology adoption.
Overcoming challenges
“To overcome these challenges, we need to transition towards large-scale farming, possibly through community-based farming organisations, where many farmers collaborate to manage larger plots collectively. This approach will facilitate easier adoption of technology and distribute income among participating farmers based on their land area,” Prof. Jayawickrama said.
“If we chose to maintain subsistence agriculture, we may need to explore alternative technologies and methods instead of relying solely on large-scale machines,” he noted, emphasising that, ultimately, Sri Lanka’s agricultural focus would prioritise providing employment and livelihoods over commercial agriculture.