6 February 2025, COLOMBO – The inaugural Catalyzing Climate-Smart Agriculture: Public-Private-People Forum convened recently in Colombo, bringing together key stakeholders from the private sector, government, civil society, and international development partners to address pressing challenges in Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector through innovative climate-smart solutions.
The Forum, jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), served as a strategic platform to facilitate dialogue and collaboration aimed at overcoming barriers to private sector engagement in climate-smart agriculture. Discussions focused on policy, regulatory, and fiscal reforms, along with digital innovations, to enhance resilience, reduce emissions, and support national climate goals.
Dr. R D S Jayatunga – Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, highlighted the Forum’s significance and said “This Forum underscores the power of collective action in addressing one of the most urgent challenges of our time. By uniting the expertise and resources of the public, private, and community sectors, we can unlock innovative solutions to build resilience in agriculture and secure sustainable livelihoods for millions of Sri Lankans.”
In his opening address, Mr Nalin Munasinghe, Assistant FAO Representative (Program), emphasizing the importance of partnerships said, “Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector stands at a crossroads. Through collaborative efforts like this Forum, we can drive sustainable, climate-resilient growth that safeguards livelihoods and ensures food security for future generations.”
The Forum’s sessions highlighted key challenges, including the impact of climate change, such as erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, temperature rise and pest outbreaks, which have disrupted agricultural productivity. Stakeholders at the forum validated findings of the comprehensive “Barriers Assessment” and explored actionable solutions to mobilize private sector investments. Proposed measures included tailored policy reforms, financial incentives, and enhanced coordination mechanisms to align investments with global financing opportunities and local needs.
A Collaborative Roadmap for Climate-Smart Agriculture
One of the Forum’s key outputs was the validation of an actionable roadmap designed to:
- Address barriers limiting private sector investment;
- Foster public-private-community collaboration;
- Leverage international climate financing;
- Develop digital systems to streamline efforts and scale up best practices in climate-smart agriculture.
The roadmap also emphasized the establishment of a Private Sector Working Group to sustain momentum and ensure continued dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.
Global Expertise and Local Action
The Forum featured expert presentations on global best practices, including insights from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan. Stakeholders from academia, civil society, and the financial sector shared their perspectives, ensuring an inclusive approach to crafting solutions.
The outputs of the Forum will inform ongoing and future initiatives to strengthen Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, with a focus on fostering resilience, promoting sustainable practices, and achieving national climate commitments.
