Present Status of Agriculture Sector Towards Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka: A Review of Existed Policies and Suggestions for Improvements

Agriculture plays a significant role in national economy and it ensure the food security of the nations to achieve the sustainable development in Sri Lanka. Hence, this paper is presented about the review of the present situation of the agriculture sector and suggestions for the improvements to achieve the sustainable development in Sri Lanka. As per the findings of the study, Sri Lanka is obtaining conventional agriculture practices few decades ago and agricultural policy makers are introduced organic agriculture for the commercial farming systems a few years ago. In particular, application of organic agriculture practices gradually reduces in commercial farming systems recently. Because, certain issues are still conspicuous in agriculture sector yet: yield losses, lower ability to share the latest information and experiences of organic agriculture, lower responsiveness of hybrid seeds in organic farming, unavailability of properly directed organic agricultural regulations and national standards, post-harvest losses during long distance transportation and limited research and development, higher prices of organic products, higher input costs, higher susceptibility to pest and diseases and shortage of supply of organic inputs etc. As a result, majority of agricultural authorities introduce GAP farming practices for the farmers. GAP was important to address the issues of food safety, trade, and sustainability. In addition to that, it also explains the reduction of aimless use of agrochemicals, avoid adverse climate changing impacts or any negative externality that threatened the overall agriculture production, people's health, and the environment, challenging the sustainability of the sector Thus, pick-up orders at the station, usage of proper storage facilities to avoid post-harvest losses while the long distance transportation, formulate and implement timely important regulations for the development of the export market of GAP products, organize extension programs and trainings to disseminate latest information to enhance the farmer’s adoption to GAP farming, encouraged to gain international training opportunities for the field experts, introduce proper control mechanisms to protect the local market, conduct research and development activities and enhance linkages between GAP farmers and other supply chain components to maintain strong certification system for their products may lead to achieve the sustainable agriculture development in Sri Lanka.