There are significant opportunities for investors in the agriculture sector both for the domestic market and for value added exports. The agriculture sector plays a key role in the country’s economic development and its new role has been redefined in the light of the development goals of the nation.

The three main traditional export crops from Sri Lanka are Tea, Rubber and Coconut. Since these industries are already well established, the main focus of BOI is in terms of developing other agricultural crops particularly by enhancing domestic value addition. The government looks for specialised investment to improve productivity, level of technology innovation, access to international markets, use of quality seeds and planting materials and improve overall value addition. Some of the opportunities include:

Horticulture: Sri Lanka aims to be recognized as one of the best horticulture produces in the world. In cut flower production there are opportunities for investors who can bring in new hybrid varieties imported from overseas which can be used as mother plants and modernised with tissue culture technology. Similarly, opportunities are available to produce fruits and vegetables for the export market such as the Middle East, Japan etc, Enhancing of value addition.

There are many areas in which value addition can be enhanced in the agro based sector. For example, Sri Lanka has been one of the largest exporters of spices. However, much of the exports has been in raw commodities form. The government encourages the induction of investors who can enhance the domestic value addition in Sri Lanka so that these items are exported in high value forms.

Fisheries: Sri Lanka has considerable fisheries potential in offshore/deep sea, inland fisheries and aquaculture. The fisheries sector contributes around 1.3% to GDP in 2012 and employs over 650,000 people directly and indirectly through related activities.

Livestock: The livestock sector consists mainly of the dairy and poultry sub-sectors, which are considered as priority areas for growth, employment generation and increasing income of rural farmers. The livestock sector accounted for about 1 per cent of GDP in 2011. Milk and products valued at over US$ 427 have been imported in 2011 and it represented 2.1 percent of Sri Lanka’s food imports.

With diverse agro zones for agro based industry and access to a large fishing area, Sri Lanka has much to offer for both local and foreign investors in the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries sectors.

Resources to refer

The Spice Digest (September 2021 issue)