Farmers to lift their game from plough to Pixel
The feedback from the Colombo Robotics Meet up 2025, an initiative aimed at adding robotics and digital technology into Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, has highlighted several acute issues in agriculture, such as the knowledge and technology gaps, best practices, disease and weed management etc, according to officials.
The project, under the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), with NSBM Green University, initiated last month, aims to change traditional farmers into smart farmers by introducing modern technology-based practices.
A NEDA official told The Sunday Times Business on Thursday that this particular meet-up showcased that farmers face limited awareness and training on modern agricultural technologies such as drones, AI, and geospatial solutions, which is heightened by scanty guidance from institutions and poor communication and extension services, making it difficult for farmers to adapt to new tools.
“Pest, disease, and weed management also present significant challenges, with a high rate of pests and fungal diseases affecting crops. Current weed control methods are often futile or too costly, particularly for organic farming, and there is a notable lack of proper disease identification and control strategies.”
Labour shortages and youth disengagement are further obscuring the issues, while growing labour costs and a scarcity of skilled workers are driving young people away from agriculture, which they see as difficult and unprofitable. “The manual effort required for tasks like pest and weed control adds to this disinterest,” the official pointed out.
Market access and economic restraints are critical barriers for small-scale farmers, who struggle to sell their crops at fair prices and face limited export opportunities. “High input costs for fertilisers and equipment further worsen these economic challenges,” the official noted.
Climate and environmental challenges with seasonal changeability impacting yields, climate-smart practices, and improved water to enhance resilience are important, he said.
Infrastructure and data shortages hamper progress, as farmers lack correct cost-of-production data and agricultural mapping tools. Poor regulation and oversight in disease control and housing safety are also issues in this sector.
Financial and policy barriers stop farmers from investing in modern equipment and technology. There is a need for government relief systems, financial support, and more supportive regulatory policies to help farmers overcome these issues effectively, all of which will be routed to the particular authorities by NEDA and NSBM.
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