The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, I reply as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Percentage of employment in the agricultural sector: - 2015: 28.7% - 2016: 27.1% - 2017: 26.1% - 2018: 25.5% - 2019: 25.3% - 2020: 27.1% - 2021: 27.3% - 2022: 26.5% - 2023: 26.1% - 2024: 26.0%

¶ 03 Sectoral composition of employment (Agriculture/Industry/Services): - 2015: 28.7 / 25.8 / 45.5 - 2016: 27.1 / 26.4 / 46.5 - 2017: 26.1 / 28.4 / 45.5 - 2018: 25.5 / 27.9 / 46.6 - 2019: 25.3 / 27.6 / 47.1 - 2020: 27.1 / 26.9 / 46.0 - 2021: 27.3 / 26.0 / 46.7 - 2022: 26.5 / 26.5 / 47.0 - 2023: 26.1 / 25.5 / 48.4 - 2024: 26.0 / 25.6 / 48.5

¶ 04 (ii) The rise in services sector employment has marginally reduced the agricultural share. Expanded job opportunities in industry/services and educational advancement steer youth towards professional vocations; relative job instability in agriculture also contributes.

¶ 05 (iii) Yes.

¶ 06 (iv) Under the “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” agriculture policy framework, to strengthen food security from the 2025/26 Maha season under the “Dawn of Revival: National Food Crop Promotion Programme,” the following are being implemented: - National programme to increase domestic rice production (“Production Fields”). - National seed production and seed security programme. - National value-addition and export promotion for surplus food crops. - National agricultural mechanization programme. - National integrated soil nutrient management programme. - National protected-house cultivation and new agri-systems promotion. - National production promotion focused on additional food crops: maize, green gram, cowpea, groundnut, potato, big onion, red onion, black gram, finger millet, chilli, and soya bean, etc. - National programme to identify and empower suitable lead farmers at village level as volunteer extension agents.

¶ 07 In addition, the Ministry is implementing (2026) a Rs. 750 million credit line: “Development of Youth Entrepreneurs in the Agricultural and Industrial Sectors” to support start-ups and SMEs by young entrepreneurs.

¶ 08 Department of Agriculture youth-attraction programmes: - Entrepreneurship training. - Programmes via 612 registered Youth Farmer Organizations and 24 School Youth Farmer Clubs. - Promotions (exhibitions, market linkage). - School agriculture society programmes to introduce agri-tech. - Training for Youth Farmer Organization members: 1) Farm machinery operation 2) Bee management 3) Soil management 4) Crop production technology 5) Food technology and value addition 6) Training with relevant agencies (e.g., Department of Export Agriculture) 7) Motivation training (agriculture, communication, leadership) 8) Digital technology and mechanization 9) Awareness on climate-smart/sustainable agriculture

¶ 09 (b) Not applicable.