Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is at a critical juncture, with modernization and export potential increasingly dependent on private sector initiatives. Yet, government policies under the National People’s Power (NPP) administration risk slowing progress. While state-led agriculture programs remain largely non-operational, private companies are demonstrating how innovation can transform the industry and benefit thousands of farmers.
HJS Condiments Ltd., Sri Lanka’s largest exporter of processed fruits and vegetables and part of the Hayleys Group, recently launched the OMNIX Digital System. This digital platform streamlines farmer engagement, strengthens traceability, and improves operational efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
Approximately 12,500 gherkin farmers, supplying to HJS across 350 crop collection centres and more than 20 agricultural projects nationwide, now benefit from faster payments, real-time support, and data-driven decision-making.
Before OMNIX, critical functions such as farmer registration, crop collection, input issuance, and payments relied on semi-automated processes, limiting speed, transparency, and accuracy. The new system introduces centralized registration, real-time crop and input tracking, predictive forecasting, mobile-based farmer management, automated payments, and analytics dashboards integrated with SAP systems. Exporters gain greater oversight, reduced waste, and reliable traceability for global markets.
While OMNIX sets a benchmark for modern agriculture, analysts caution that the NPP government’s focus on state-run initiatives could undermine the sector’s growth. Policies emphasizing government-managed agriculture, without clear incentives for private investment, risk discouraging innovation and slowing the modernization of supply chains. Experts argue that supportive measures such as tax incentives, easier access to credit, and streamlined regulations—are essential for scaling private sector solutions and boosting exports.
The platform aligns with Sri Lanka’s 2030 Digital Economy strategy, showcasing how technology can elevate productivity and competitiveness. By replicating such private sector innovations across the wider industry, the country can expand value-added exports, strengthen smallholder livelihoods, and improve global market positioning.
However, without timely government support and policy clarity, these opportunities may be lost. Analysts warn that continued emphasis on largely symbolic government programs, instead of facilitating private enterprise, threatens to slow sectoral growth, limit export potential, and reduce the economic benefits to farming communities.
In conclusion, modernization is happening in Sri Lanka—but it is being led by the private sector. For agriculture to reach its full potential, the government must shift from control to facilitation, providing incentives and removing obstacles. The success of initiatives like OMNIX demonstrates that when private innovation is empowered, Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector can achieve both growth and global competitiveness.
