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HomePosts Tagged "Sri Lanka"
Agribusiness, Agrotech, Collaborations, Opinions, Start ups

 By P Dadira N Peiris, Senior Manager, Kanrich Plantations (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, with its diverse agro-climatic zones and rich agricultural heritage, stands at a critical juncture in its agricultural evolution. While the country’s agricultural sector holds immense promise, it grapples with numerous challenges hindering its growth and sustainability. However, amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for collaboration and innovation, particularly with Indian agri-tech companies.

Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector grapples with several challenges, including limited access to modern technology, inefficient resource utilisation, and post-harvest losses. Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the sector, face difficulties in accessing credit, market information, and quality inputs. Moreover, climate change impacts, such as erratic weather patterns and water scarcity, further exacerbate the challenges faced by farmers. Addressing these real needs requires holistic solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience in agriculture.

Focus areas for improvement

To overcome these challenges, Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector must prioritise several key areas for improvement. Precision agriculture, crop diversification, post-harvest management, and agro-processing emerge as critical focal points. By enhancing efficiency and resilience across these domains, Sri Lanka can unlock its agricultural potential and foster sustainable growth. For instance, precision farming technologies, such as IoT-based sensors and drones, can optimise resource utilisation and improve crop yields. Additionally, solutions for water management and conservation can help mitigate the effects of water scarcity, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.

Market potential for new technology and mechanisation

Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector presents vast market potential for new technology and mechanisation solutions. With a growing population and increasing demand for food security, there is a pressing need to enhance agricultural productivity and efficiency. Moreover, the government’s emphasis on promoting agribusiness and value addition offers lucrative opportunities for investment in mechanisation, processing, and marketing infrastructure. Indian agri-tech companies can leverage their technological prowess to introduce cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of Sri Lankan farmers, thereby capturing a significant market share.

Recent achievements in Indian mechanisation

India has made significant strides in agricultural mechanisation, leveraging technology to enhance productivity and efficiency in farming operations. The introduction of advanced machinery, such as tractor-mounted implements, harvesters, and planters, has revolutionised traditional farming practices, reducing labour dependency and increasing output. Notable achievements include the widespread adoption of custom hiring centres for farm machinery, and promoting access to mechanisation services among smallholder farmers.

Future objectives of India and Sri Lanka in agricultural modernisation

Both India and Sri Lanka have outlined ambitious objectives for agricultural modernisation, encompassing technological advancements, sustainable practices, and inclusive growth. India’s vision for the agricultural sector includes doubling farmers’ income, promoting digital agriculture, and ensuring food security through innovative technologies and policy reforms. Similarly, Sri Lanka aims to enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote agro-based industries to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumasia.com/e-magazine

 By P Dadira N Peiris, Senior Manager,

Poultry, SAARC, Supply Chain, Trade

Under the BIMSTEC Cooperation, India will be annually exporting eggs worth Rs 350 crore to Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu poultry farmers in Namakkal are gearing up to export eggs to Sri Lanka as part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Under the BIMSTEC Cooperation, India will be annually exporting eggs worth Rs 350 crore to Sri Lanka’s State Trading Corporation to help the island nation tide over the crisis. This is part of a 350-crore initiative from the Indian government to help Sri Lanka overcome their economic crisis.

Sri Lanka has been facing an economic crisis and a shortage of poultry feed, leading to a shortage of eggs and a significant increase in their cost. Currently, an egg costs Rs 13.

The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a proposal to import 90 million chicken eggs per month to reduce egg prices in the country. The BIMSTEC has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sri Lankan State Trading Corporation for the supply of onions, red chillies, pulses and chemicals to the island nation.



Under the BIMSTEC Cooperation, India will be

Foodgrains, Supply Chain, Trade, World

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, IMF’s Chief Economist, cautioned that such restrictions could exacerbate food price volatility worldwide and lead to retaliatory measures

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that India lift restrictions on the export of a particular type of rice, as these restrictions could contribute to global inflation. To keep domestic rice supplies stable during the festive season, the Indian government banned the export of non-basmati white rice on July 20.

This type of rice accounts for about 25 per cent of India’s total rice exports. However, there will be no change in export policy for par-boiled non-basmati rice and basmati rice, which make up the bulk of India’s rice exports. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, IMF’s Chief Economist, cautioned that such restrictions could exacerbate food price volatility worldwide and lead to retaliatory measures.

India’s non-basmati white rice exports totalled $4.2 million in 2022-23, with major destinations including the US, Thailand, Italy, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

The IMF has projected India’s growth rate for fiscal year 2024 to be 6.1 per cent, up slightly from its previous estimate of 5.9 per cent in April. The IMF has also praised India’s world-class digital public infrastructure, which is driving efficiency gains for businesses. The Indian economy has been robust, and the IMF has called for reforms to increase female labour force participation and training opportunities for youth. Despite the challenges, India’s growth rate is expected to remain above average for the region, with inflation projected to be under control.

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, IMF's Chief Economist, cautioned that

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, SAARC, Sustainability

Sri Lanka’s Minister for Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera appreciated India’s efforts to promote the use and popularisation of millet

In Sri Lanka, the High Commission of India held an interaction on the importance of millets in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s Minister for Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera appreciated India’s efforts to promote the use and popularisation of millet. He said Millets are very helpful, especially for those who are battling illnesses like Cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He added that Sri Lanka can benefit from better varieties of millet from India through collaboration with Indian institutions like Indian Council for Agricultural Research.

Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner said that Millets have been a part of Indian cultural DNA. Recounting India’s journey from food-grain shortage to surplus, Baglay also recounted the shift towards water-intensive and cash crops. He elaborated on the benefits millets would provide to small farmers, especially in crises.

The High Commissioner said that once forgotten, millets have now become popular as smart foods and healthy food. Remembering Sri Lanka’s crisis last year, he said that both India and Sri Lanka acknowledged food security as the first pillar of cooperation. He asserted that today’s interaction on millet can help achieve cooperation on food security.

Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation for Sri Lanka and Maldives Vimlendra Sharan welcomed the interaction organised by the Indian Mission. He said that the international year of Millets is timely and a reminder to work towards integrating millets into our production cycle and consumption pattern. Elaborating that millets are climate resilient, he added that in Sri Lanka millet production is restricted to under 7000 hectares as against 8 lakh hectares in the case of rice. He added that this scenario needs a change. He further said that FAO stands with Sri Lanka to bring the best practices and technologies to help Sri Lanka in improving millet cultivation.

Sri Lanka’s Minister for Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy

Discussions were held on all relevant issues in detail including the concerns relating to fishermen and fishing boats

The fifth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on fisheries was recently held through virtual mode.

The Indian delegation was led by Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The other members of the Indian delegation included senior representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of Puducherry, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by RMI Rathnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Government of Sri Lanka. The other members of the Sri Lankan delegation comprised of senior officials from the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Navy, Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Police, Department of the Attorney General and National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency.

The Joint Working Group discussed all relevant issues in detail including the concerns relating to fishermen and fishing boats which have been on the agenda of bilateral discussions between India and Sri Lanka for many years.

Jatindra Nath Swain observed that the Indian side is always committed to working constructively with the Sri Lankan side towards the resolution of issues related to fishermen and their livelihoods in a humanitarian manner. He also took up the issue of the early release of Indian fishermen and boats currently in Sri Lankan custody. The Indian side expressed its readiness to work together with Sri Lanka for joint research to enhance the productivity of the Palk Bay fisheries.

Both sides also discussed cooperation between Navy & Coast Guard of both countries in patrolling, an existing hotline between the Coast Guards and related operational matters including cooperation in tracking poaching, prevention of environmental damage due to bottom trawling, addressing grievances of fishermen on either side, besides issues relating to investigation on recent deaths of fishermen and status of apprehended fishermen and fishing boats.

The Indian side highlighted the initiatives taken by the Central and State Governments to diversify livelihood options and reduce fishing pressure in Palk Bay. It also informed that infrastructure has been created to facilitate deep-sea fishing and promotion of alternative livelihood through seaweed cultivation, mariculture and several aquaculture activities.

The Sri Lankan side proposed a faster transition to sustainable fishing in the Palk Bay fisheries and also suggested that India can help them develop the aquaculture sector and the associated infrastructure in Northern Sri Lanka.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with commitment towards continued cooperation and dialogue to solve the fishermen related issues and to hold the next meeting of the Joint Working Group as per schedule.

Discussions were held on all relevant issues