Arabfields, Farah Benali, Economic Correspondent, China — China has stepped up its agricultural cooperation with Sri Lanka through a new training programme aimed at improving tropical fruit production, strengthening farming techniques and supporting the country’s agricultural development.
The three-day initiative began on November 9 at the University of Ruhuna in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province. It was jointly organised by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and the foreign affairs office of China’s Hainan Province, bringing together agricultural technicians, researchers, university students and local fruit growers.
The programme focuses on practical approaches to tropical fruit cultivation, including seedling propagation and more efficient production methods. Participants are receiving technical instruction and taking part in field visits designed to demonstrate improved farming practices for bananas, pineapples and mangoes.
The initiative comes as Sri Lanka seeks to improve agricultural productivity and create better economic opportunities for rural communities. For many small-scale farmers, limited access to modern technology, rising production costs and inconsistent yields remain significant obstacles to expanding their businesses.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wei Huaxiang expressed hope that the programme would strengthen agricultural exchanges between the two countries. He also highlighted China’s willingness to share technical expertise and contribute to the sustainable development of Sri Lanka’s farming sector.
W.L.O. Manel, an agricultural official from the Southern Province, described the initiative as an important step towards broader cooperation. She pointed to the longstanding agricultural relationship between the two countries and the potential for technical exchanges to create new opportunities for local producers.
The latest training programme builds on previous cooperation between China, Sri Lanka and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Under the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Project, which ran from 2023 to 2025, farmers were introduced to techniques such as fruit bagging and precision drip irrigation across 10 demonstration sites.
The results were significant. Banana production reportedly increased by 70 per cent, while mango yields rose by more than 50 per cent. Fertiliser consumption also declined by 72 per cent, highlighting the potential economic and environmental benefits of improved agricultural management.
These results offer an encouraging outlook for Sri Lanka’s fruit industry in 2026. Better yields and more efficient use of agricultural inputs could help farmers improve their profit margins while reducing dependence on expensive fertilisers and traditional production methods.
The challenge now will be to extend these improvements beyond demonstration farms. Smaller producers will need continued technical assistance, affordable irrigation systems and access to quality planting materials if the benefits are to reach a wider section of the agricultural community.
Looking ahead to 2027, further cooperation between Chinese agricultural institutions and Sri Lankan authorities could accelerate the adoption of modern cultivation methods. Bananas, mangoes and pineapples are likely to remain key priorities, particularly as Sri Lanka seeks to improve the consistency and quality of its tropical fruit supply.
For local growers, the value of the partnership will ultimately be measured in harvest volumes, production costs and household incomes. If the techniques introduced through the programme can be adopted on a larger scale, the initiative could become an important foundation for a more productive and competitive Sri Lankan fruit industry.
