Revamping Sri Lanka's Agricultural Landscape: The Need for a Comprehensive Policy Framework

With insights from Professor Buddhi Marambe, an expert in agricultural policy from the University of Peradeniya, this article delves into the state of Sri Lanka's agricultural landscape.

Sri Lanka has lacked a comprehensive agricultural policy for a considerable period of time. Despite the presence of some internet-based documents purporting to represent agricultural policies for rice, fruits, and vegetables, there is a need for a more extensive policy framework. In 2019, an Overarching Agricultural Policy (OAP) was developed to address this shortfall. The OAP is an impressive work that covers not only the crops mentioned but also provides guidance for perennial crops, plantation and export agricultural crops, livestock and poultry, fisheries, irrigation, agrarian development, and environmental issues.

The OAP is a weighty document, comprising 168 pages, but has since been condensed into a 32-page version. It was created through an extensive stakeholder consultation process carried out at national, provincial, and local levels, with support from the European Union (EU). The EU is considering a grant of 47 million Euros to facilitate the implementation of this policy through budgetary support. In contrast, the National Agricultural Policy currently being reviewed by the cabinet is limited in scope, addressing only one food and feed crop compared to the eight sectors covered by the OAP, with ten thematic areas and fifteen policy statements.

Given the comprehensive nature of the OAP and its potential impact on the national economy, we strongly recommend that Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera prioritize the implementation of the OAP over the proposed Agri policy. Adequate funding and support are necessary to realize the benefits of a national policy fully.

The Planters who specialize in export-oriented perennial agriculture are deeply worried about the direction - or lack thereof - of the plantation industry. With no clear path forward, the industry is facing a perilous nosedive, which could result in an annual loss of up to 10 billion USD. The Ceylon Planters Society is convinced that the industry has the potential to generate much more than that, provided that the Overarching Agricultural Policy (OAP) is approved by the cabinet.

The society argues that the proposed National Agriculture Policy is nothing more than a patchwork of disconnected ideas that will not deliver the desired national objectives. Instead, they believe that the OAP, with its comprehensive and all-encompassing approach, is the key to unlocking the full potential of the plantation industry. By providing clear guidance on everything from agrarian development to environmental issues, the OAP has the potential to transform the industry and generate billions of dollars in revenue.

The Planters are urging the government to act quickly and decisively by approving the OAP, which they see as the only viable path forward for the plantation industry. With the right policies and support, they are convinced that the industry can thrive and contribute significantly to the national economy. However, time is running out, and the longer the government waits, the greater the risk that the industry will suffer irreparable harm.

Top of FormLalin I De Silva was a Senior Planter, Secretary General of Ceylon Planters Society, Editor of the CPS Bulletin and freelance journalist.