Sri Lanka launches AgriConnect plan to modernize agriculture

The Government of Sri Lanka, in partnership with the World Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has launched the Sri Lanka AgriConnect Joint Implementation Plan. The initiative aims to transform the nation’s agrifood sector by connecting farmers to finance, technology, and markets while strengthening food security and creating rural employment.

The program seeks to help 900,000 farmers gain better access to agricultural value chains by 2030. The effort will be supported by $550 million in World Bank Group investments and $115 million from IFAD, with the goal of mobilizing up to $170 million in private capital over the next five years.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the plan is essential for building economic resilience and transitioning toward a production-based economy. Agriculture and food processing currently account for at least 15% of Sri Lanka’s GDP, 30% of goods exports, and one in three jobs.