Circular economy and organic waste management : potential for organic fertilizer production and challenges in Sri Lanka
Porawakara Arachchige, Harshini Rananjali Piyathara (2025)
Lataukset:
Diplomityö
2025
School of Energy Systems, Ympäristötekniikka
Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025053056079
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025053056079
Tiivistelmä
The study looks at how a circular economy could enhance the management of organic waste and the production of organic fertilizers in Sri Lanka. With the increasing environmental concerns and fertilizer crises, Sri Lanka suffers from the unchecked organic waste problem and the reliance on imported chemical fertilizers. The study attempts to investigate the existing practices of organic waste management, evaluate the possibility of organic fertilizer production from waste, establish the primary obstacles in the industry, and put forward feasible practical proposals. It also incorporates qualitative and quantitative approaches by using data from seventeen farmer questionnaires along with semi-structured interviews with three organic fertilizer producers and two government officials. These data sources were utilized to gain perspectives on the farming practices, fertilizer application, willingness of the stakeholders, production obstacles, and the institutional framework.
The results of the study indicate that there is an interest in Sri Lanka adopting organic fertilizer production, but are obstacles such as poor infrastructure, policy gaps, misinformation, low stakeholder engagement, and weak institutional framework greatly hindering the progress. Farmers have expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of organic fertilizers which has enabled producers to rely on mixed fertilizers, whereas, producers cite poor waste quality, weak technical assistance, and disintegrated distribution as barriers. Although government policy is largely favorable, it often lacks local demand readiness and contains vague execution plans.
The research states that Sri Lanka's move towards a sustainable circular agriculture system is more complex than a change in policy. It needs spending on infrastructure for composting, regulatory oversight, training programs for farmers, multi-sectoral collaboration, and more robust governance. It is a key resource for all those interested and involved in the implementation of the concept of Circular Economy to address the extremely pressing organic waste management and organic fertilizer production in Sri Lanka. It adds to a national conversation by providing on-the-ground, pragmatic approaches to minimize waste, create a more resilient, self-reliant agricultural system.
The results of the study indicate that there is an interest in Sri Lanka adopting organic fertilizer production, but are obstacles such as poor infrastructure, policy gaps, misinformation, low stakeholder engagement, and weak institutional framework greatly hindering the progress. Farmers have expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of organic fertilizers which has enabled producers to rely on mixed fertilizers, whereas, producers cite poor waste quality, weak technical assistance, and disintegrated distribution as barriers. Although government policy is largely favorable, it often lacks local demand readiness and contains vague execution plans.
The research states that Sri Lanka's move towards a sustainable circular agriculture system is more complex than a change in policy. It needs spending on infrastructure for composting, regulatory oversight, training programs for farmers, multi-sectoral collaboration, and more robust governance. It is a key resource for all those interested and involved in the implementation of the concept of Circular Economy to address the extremely pressing organic waste management and organic fertilizer production in Sri Lanka. It adds to a national conversation by providing on-the-ground, pragmatic approaches to minimize waste, create a more resilient, self-reliant agricultural system.