From left: AgriSaviya National Initiative Project Chair Charaka Perera and Sri Lanka Insurance CEO Chandana L. Aluthgama exchange agreements 

Sri Lanka Insurance (SLI) partners with Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) as the insurance partner for the ‘Agrisaviya’,  the first Agri-Business Management and Entrepreneurial Programme offered in Sri Lanka.

The certificate in Agri-Business and Entrepreneurship (CABE) programme is a first-of-its-kind qualification available in Sri Lanka to transform farmers into ‘Agriprenureres’.
The agriculture sector of Sri Lanka is one of the most important sources of employment for the majority of the workforce in Sri Lanka. Approximately 2.1 million persons or 25.5 percent of the total employed population, are engaged in agriculture, inclusive of forestry and fishery. 

As the national insurer, Sri Lanka Insurance has always been keen on empowering the working population who are driving the economy forward. Being the insurance partner for the ‘Agrisaviya’  is yet another initiative to uplift the living standards of those who are engaged in the agriculture sector while contributing towards the national development of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Insurance said.

Although 25.5 percent of the population in Sri Lanka engages in agriculture, the sector’s contribution to GDP is as low as 7.3 percent. Despite the geographical advantage of the country, and the history of being an agriculture-based economy, Sri Lanka has a declining trend of contribution to the country’s production due to a lack of value additions. 
The ‘AgriSaviya’ programme will help bridge the knowledge gap of the sector with the contribution of Sri Lanka Insurance as the insurance partner.

The programme will empower and transform the agricultural sector in building a passion for employment with professionalism. The programme inspires youth to join the agriculture sector by making it attractive and grooming ‘Agripreneurs’ to generate higher income to ensure inclusive growth and eliminate inequalities in the long run.