Regional FAO Summit: Sri Lanka Reaffirms Resilience and Export Goals 📈

Sri Lanka actively participated in the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC38) held in Brunei, focusing on building sustainable agrifood systems amidst global market volatility. • Strategic Priorities: Minister of Agriculture Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha emphasized strengthening domestic production and reducing import dependency to shield the economy from rising energy and fertilizer costs caused by Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions. • Modernization & Growth: The government highlighted a shift toward agricultural modernization via: • Digital governance and improved water management. • Establishing export-oriented agricultural villages to integrate SMEs into global value chains. • Enhancing livestock and fisheries sectors through science and innovation. • Resilience Measures: Addressing 2026 global inflation pressures, Sri Lanka is leveraging FAO initiatives like Hand-in-Hand and One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) to foster a competitive, nutrition-sensitive food future. • Sector Impact: Focus remains on empowering women and youth within the agrifood sector to ensure inclusive growth and long-term employment stability.