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BIMSTEC, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG); Transformation Strategies

Non-PR, IFPRI4; CRP4; DCA; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance, SAR; A4NH

PR, IFPRI5; Feed the Future Innovation Laboratory for Food Security Policy; DCA; Food Security PRCI; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry, DSGD, The government of Sri Lanka has implemented a myriad of fertilizer import and use options during 2015 – 2021 with the objective of making agricultural systems more financially and environmentally sustainable. However, these policy actions were not fully informed by global and national evidence. This policy brief illustrates how the fertilizer policy environment influences the performance of agricultural systems in Sri Lanka, reviews past policy changes and presents a set of options for sustainable intensification of Sri Lankan agricultural systems.

Non-PR, IFPRI1; ReSAKSS Asia; CRP4; DCA; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry, MTID; SAR; A4NH, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), Provision of food safety requires not only regulation but also a demand pull where value chain participants demand food safety or are able to play their role in providing safe food. In both cases, producer, and consumer awareness about requirements for food safety is a precondition for delivery of food safety. In this paper, focusing on dairy in Sri Lanka, we assess the awareness and choice of practices by producers and consumers towards food safety. Sri Lanka has unique features in the dairy sector, with very high import penetration and form of consumption, i.e., powdered milk, that actuates formalization. Looking at different segments of the population, including rural, urban and estate, and different management systems, the evidence suggests only a moderate level of food safety awareness in dairy in middle-income consumers in Sri Lanka. Considering the differences across systems, the degree of adoption of food safety is lowest among farmers in the extensive system, while it is highest among farmers in the intensive system. However, in terms of choice between powdered and fresh milk, food safety consciousness is one of the most significant determinants where fresh milk is considered comparatively unsafe. Even when food safety issues arose in powdered milk, only small adjustments occurred in consumption, both because the health effects were limited, and the choice sets were circumscribed by the number of brands across which some consumers switched following the food safety scare. In the push toward promotion of fresh milk consumption, ensuring food safety and convincing consumers about merits of fresh milk would be required in Sri Lanka beyond the preference change from well-established powdered milk consumption.

Non-PR, IFPRI5; CRP4; DCA; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance, A4NH, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy of Sri Lanka like anywhere else in the world will be complex to predict in terms of magnitude, but directions are predictable. Being a trade dependent island nation, Sri Lanka will likely suffer from the expected recession in addition to the disruptions in global and domestic supply chains. Notwithstanding these effects, our research shows that the overall impacts on agri-food supply chains in Sri Lanka may not be the slayer that one would expect it to be, barring the prolonged disruptions and adverse policy stances in other countries. Every crisis invariably nests an opportunity. As the rebuilding and revival of the economy eventuates, this article proposes three pivotal heads of interventions to make capital of the agri-food chains to shepherd the revival of the Sri Lankan economy post COVID-19 i.e. after the storm.

Non-PR, IFPRI5; CRP4; DCA; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance, A4NH, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy of Sri Lanka like anywhere else in the world will be complex to predict in terms of magnitude, but directions are predictable. Being a trade dependent island nation, Sri Lanka would likely suffer from the expected recession in addition to the disruptions in global and domestic supply chains. Notwithstanding these effects, our research shows that the overall impacts on agri-food supply chains in Sri Lanka may not be the slayer that one would expect it to be, barring the prolonged disruptions and adverse policy stances in other countries. Every crisis invariably nests an opportunity. As the rebuilding and revival of the economy eventuates, this article proposes three pivotal heads of interventions to make capital of the agri-food chains to shepherd the revival of the Sri Lankan economy post COVID-19 i.e. after the storm.

Non-PR, IFPRI2; CRP2; ASTI, EPTD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), In 2016, Sri Lanka invested 0.62 percent of its AgGDP in agricultural research, representing an increase since 2010. Nevertheless, levels remained below those needed to address the country’s numerous productivity-related challenges. Long-term recruitment restrictions have prevented government agricultural research agencies from expanding their pools of researchers over time. Sri Lanka stands out from most low- and middle-income countries globally in that the majority of its agricultural researchers are female. Comparatively few women hold managerial positions, however.

Non-PR, IFPRI1; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all, DGO, In this paper we look at Sri Lanka’s food and nutrition policies from a historical perspective to identify the intervention options for addressing the country’s current food security and nutrition challenges.

Non-PR, IFPRI1, DGO; PIM; SAO, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth over the recent years. In the food and agriculture sector, however, there are several conspicuous policy changes that require attentive analysis. Also, since 2008, agriculture growth slowed down due to drought and weak global demand which affected exports and trade. This brief takes stock of key food and agricultural indicators and provides key recommendations to further expedite the transformation of the sector. Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of agricultural transformation, moving from subsistence- based agrarian economy towards early integration stage. But further progress towards market- oriented industrialized agriculture will crucially depend on the policy, institutional, and technological innovations that are designed and implemented by the Government. The government of Sri Lanka has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects to achieve higher growth by developing small and medium enterprises and to increase agricultural productivity.