Activities

Sri Lankan Heirloom Rice

World Change Starts With Rice

Rural Returns' first products are exotic heirloom rice varieties endemic to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's population is 84% rural[1]; just over half of the labor force is rural; and agriculture employs around a third of the labor force – at wages significantly below other sectors.

These facts imply that rural areas feature more dependents and/or that breadwinners migrate to urban areas.

The percentages of urban poor have reached single digits whereas the relative percentage of rural poor has increased. Further, 83% of agricultural labor is informal, compared to only 52% in non-agricultural sectors.

We are excited to be working with leading practitioners, academics and pioneers in Sri Lankan agribusiness. Learn more about our team and our advisors here.

Find updates and latest news here. Check out pictures and more information here.

[1]All statistics quoted in this section are for 2008, from the Sri Lankan Department of Census and Statistics