Abstract:
Despite employing over 30% of the workforce, Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector
contributed merely 8.75% to the GDP in 2022, highlighting persistent challenges
such as limited access to real-time data and inefficient resource management
that constrain its growth and sustainability. This research seeks to address these
issues and explore the potential of digital agriculture as a solution. To this end,
this study aimed to identify the barriers to real-time agricultural data access in
Sri Lanka and to assess digital farming solutions by adopting a mixed-methods
approach, combining quantitative data analysis from reviewing existing
documents and qualitative insights from interviews with farmers and
agricultural experts. The research findings reveal that only 35% of rural farmers
use digital tools due to connectivity and literacy barriers, ultimately hindering
agrarian productivity and income. Lack of access to real-time data, leading to
suboptimal use of inputs, untimely harvests, and economic hardships, has
increased economic vulnerability among farmers in Sri Lanka. Moreover, there
is a disconnection between agricultural policies and their on-ground
implementation, which has led to corruption, ineffective resource allocation and
inadequate support for farmers. Digital agriculture solutions, including mobile
apps, satellite data, digital marketing databases and portals, and precision
farming tools, hold great potential for addressing these challenges. Based on the
research findings, this study proposed key recommendations. First, there is a
need to improve infrastructure and technological capabilities to ensure reliable
and accessible real-time data for farmers. Second, digital literacy programs
should be implemented to enhance farmers' understanding and utilization of
digital agriculture tools. Third, collaboration between government agencies, agricultural stakeholders, and technology providers is crucial for effective
implementation and sustainable financing models. Adopting recommended
strategies can unlock Sri Lanka’s transformative potential of digital agriculture,
fostering a more sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector.
