Reviving Sri Lankan Agriculture: How Tourism Can Drive Sustainable Farming.
Sri Lanka is known as a food-abundant nation. In the pre-colonial era, ancient kingdoms prioritized agriculture as the cornerstone of Sri Lankan civilization, with good reason. Sri Lanka deeply embodied the concept of “food as medicine,” using spices paired with heirloom grains. Today, however, Sri Lanka is one of the highest chemical pesticide-using countries, with over 2,500 tons used on this small island. It goes without saying that heavy pesticide use is linked to a cocktail of disorders and terminal illnesses. The roots of this problem can be traced back to capitalistic influences with one goal in mind: profit.
My personal opinion (and my life motto) is: don’t dwell too long in the past dissecting a problem when the answer lies in our culture. Ancient agricultural wisdom created sustainable farming methods to feed entire villages, and it can make a comeback with the support of tourism.
A Mini Case Study in Ahangama, Sri Lanka
Ahangama was a laid-back village not so long ago, but it rose to stardom when surfers discovered perfect waves and breathtaking sunsets. Along with this came the opportunity for many foreign businesses to establish cafes, hotels, yoga studios, and villas in this picture-perfect region. Ahangama is rich with paddy fields—miles and miles of them. On the surface, it is abundant and certainly helps as an Instagram backdrop for promoting this village as a must-visit destination in Sri Lanka. In reality, over eighty percent of the crop is produced using pesticides. We work with a farmer collective called “Saru Collective” to highlight the handful of farmers trying to preserve heritage farming methods. According to one of the farmers, Indika, organic farms harvest about 1,800 kg per acre in one season, whereas farms with pesticides produce around 2,000 kg. According to the Ahangama Farmers Association, there are 3,000+ acres of active paddy in Ahangama. The rice mills buy organic rice from farmers for around Rs.300 per kg, whereas conventional rice is valued at Rs.200. Indika says the problem lies in labor charges in organic paddy farming because it is labor-intensive.
Farmers, just like you and I, seek convenience and generally gravitate toward the demand of the people. It may seem like a small difference in price by Western standards, but the 100 rupee price difference is significant for Sri Lankans who consume rice daily. A viable solution lies in bridging the price gap through increasing demand for both organic rice as a product and cultivation as a desirable/fairly paid job. And Ahangama’s popularity in tourism might offer a very real way of contributing to this solution.
Tourism and Community
Mindful Retreats began to collaborate with Saru Collective to include Indika’s farm as an interactive experience for wellness retreats. We soon realized that the funding it brings not only creates wealth for the farmer but also creates opportunity in the community. For example, just two experiences (when the farmer is paid his/her worth) can fund labor costs required for harvesting. It also raises awareness among tourists about organic produce in Sri Lanka, increasing demand. As a result, organic farmers can sell more of their rice directly to consumers instead of selling to the general mill. This is a win-win since many tourist spots use rice as a staple and promote Sri Lankan cuisine as a unique attraction, switching to organic rice is a great long-term strategy to maintain travelers' interest in Agri hubs on the island.
Tourism and community, like the perfect pairing of rice and curry (if you know, you know), thrive together only when both are appreciated for their unique contributions. Sri Lanka’s vibrant tourism industry flourishes because of the rich diversity and prosperity it introduces. For tourism to continue thriving, tourists and businesses must recognize and support what truly elevates the community: a longstanding culture that treats food as medicine. Those who sustain this invaluable heritage are, indeed, the true gems of Sri Lanka’s tourism appeal.
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Sources:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/pesticide-usage-by-country
