Commentary on the Strategic Interventions for Agriculture, Climate Change, and Food Security Proposed by the National Science and Technology Commission at the 9th Biennial Conference on Science and Technology

Agriculture in Sri Lanka occupies 45.46% of the land and consumes over 80% of the country's freshwater resources. Rice farming is the most prominent agricultural practice, with 1.8 million families engaged in it. The tea plantation sector produces tea annually, contributing to 285,877 metric tons of export volume. Tea exports contribute nearly 38% of the total agricultural products, with a target of $2,044 million in income by 2025. Climate change and natural resources significantly impact agriculture, with irregular rainfall patterns, temperature variation, and drought causing significant challenges. The proposed interventions under the food crops, plantation, and export crops sectors include enhancing certified seed production, promoting value-added products, and developing training and awareness programs for low-carbon lifestyles. Food security is another area where climate change impacts the agricultural sector, with nearly 26% of the population affected by food security by 2050 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. To address this issue, the proposed strategic interventions aim to achieve SDG 1, SDG 2, and SDG 13, the recommendations of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the actions of the Milan Urban Food Policy Fund. However, more concerns can be put forward to minimize or eliminate diseases in agricultural sectors due to climate change and minimize food waste or loss.