UNLOCKING SRI LANKA'S AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL THROUGH REAL-TIME DATA INTEGRATION

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.